Our Call And Election

We are called to make our call and election firm, to take the gift of faith we have been given strengthen it against the attacks of the devil. As we have moved back into ordinary time, I have been amazed at how beautiful the daily readings are. They seem to reach out and touch my soul, speaking to that place in my heart that needs encouragement and direction. Especially the readings of 1 and 2 Peter have been packed with practical advice for the early church on how to keep going in this new found faith and this advice is good for us also.

Therefore, brothers, be all the more eager to make your call and election firm, for, in doing so, you will never stumble. For, in this way, entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ will be richly provided for you. 2 Peter 1:10-11

When a flood is coming, people will shore up to protect themselves from the coming flood. Sand bags go down building up and making firm the sea wall that will protect the city. In this reading from St. Peter, he tell the brothers, “make your call and election firm”. As we walk along this journey toward the Kingdom of God, we will need to daily shore up our call and election making them firm against the attack of the devil.

In the beginning of formation, we were all asked to start developing a practice of prayer life, Liturgy of the Hours, rosary and such. We were asked to go to daily mass, reconciliation, and adoration. This all seemed daunting but as we look back we can see that these are our spiritual sand bags. These sand bags will help fortify us against the attacks that surely will come.

The past few weeks in Central TX have been trying to say the least. The rains and flooding have been some of the worst I have ever seen. We see everywhere people doing whatever they can to protect their homes and businesses. Things that can be moved are taken to higher ground. Those things that cannot be moved, our homes an businesses, we try to protect using sandbags or whatever we can to shore up our walls to protect ourselves from destruction. Our life and journey to the Kingdom of God is much the same. How many of us want to just shore our wall up once a week or twice a year for the Christmas and Easter Catholics. When the constant wearing of the world comes our way, there is no way we will be able to avoid destruction.  The things of this world will constantly wear away at our faith and we will have to keep making firm our call and election. “For, in this way, entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ will be richly provided for you.”

I find great comfort in what I see happening in the church. I am moved to tears when I think of all the great priests and deacons that are being ordained and how they are the new sandbags of the church giving strength to walls that have been weakened by scandal and the secular world. To see the look of joy on one of our new transitional deacons, Joe Dahiem, gives me great hope that the church will not only survive but thrive. As long as we will keep filling up our sand bags and fortifying our walls, walls to keep the evil one out but to allow people to enter in. I challenge everyone to fill up their spiritual sandbags before the attacks come and it is too late and make firm our call and election.