HARK THE VOICE OF JESUS CALLING
That’s such a great hymn to sing. The voice of Jesus is calling us to work today! And this hymn reminds us that there is something for everyone to do! The hymn mentions teaching, preaching, sharing Jesus’ love, pointing out the path to heaven, leading little children, praying, giving offerings, and supporting others who do these things by lifting up the prophets’ hands. There’s even “rousing the wicked” if you’re up for that! So what is Jesus calling you to do? Can you hear his voice?
I think if we are honest, it’s a little easier to hear God calling when he calls us to do something we kind of want to do.
I remember in college hearing God’s voice calling me to be a pastor – an inner voice telling me this is what I should do and I recognized it as Jesus’ voice. But I think I kind of WANTED to do it. I enjoyed languages and writing and music. I loved working in the church and with other people. Perhaps the Spirit was creating those desires in me too. Which was nice because then I didn’t have to argue with God over it.
Some may feel called to teach Sunday School and maybe they also just happen to enjoy working with kids. Some may feel called to volunteer helping others and they also like how it feels when they do. Those who like to sing may also hear a calling to sing in choir – and we must answer these calls because the Spirit is at work creating these desires in us and calling us to use our gifts.
But isn’t it funny that we rarely feel a call to something that we don’t really want to do. Would you clean the bathroom? You know what, I don’t feel called to do that. How about mow the lawn? Hmmm. . . Once again, just not hearing that calling. Would you like to do something really inconvenient and sacrificial – let me think about it . . . nope. Not called.
We hear of an opportunity that sounds fun – something we would like to do and lo, and behold we answer gladly, “hear am I send me!” And that’s great. But perhaps there is more involved in answering the call of Jesus.
Today in our Gospel reading Jesus tells a parable about a father calling his sons into work in the vineyard. One of his sons said “no.” At least he was honest, I guess. Maybe this was the vineyard where you work all day and get paid the same as those who only worked an hour! So maybe this son thought he’d slip in at the end of the day. Because he eventually turned around and obeyed and went to work. The other son said “yes” initially – knowing he SHOULD do it – but obviously didn’t really WANT to and then realized that – you know, he just didn’t feel called anymore.
Jesus’ words in this story had a pointed meaning for the Pharisees – those who called themselves sons but failed in their calling by refusing to believe. But what about us? Do we sometimes have trouble answering the call to work in God’s vineyard?
Let’s leave Jesus’ parable for now . . . Which reminds me to encourage you to stick around after worship today for the adult Bible study on Jesus’ parables . . .and let’s go over to the second reading for today where we discover an ancient hymn . . . and we meet the obedient Son . . . and we find new life to answer our calling.
It may not look like a hymn – there’s no music or meter to it – but many believe that in this reading from Paul’s letter to the Philippian church, Paul is quoting a worship song that he and the Philippians were familiar with – something they sang in their Sunday liturgy. Paul is writing this letter to them while he was a prisoner – something I doubt he felt called to – and he is encouraging them to live together without selfish ambition and to look to the interests of others.
This was their calling. So to encourage and empower them to this kind of life, he includes the lyrics of what is often called “The Christ Song.” Obviously the melody is lost, but listen again to these beautiful words:
Christ Jesus,
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself
and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,
1that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
1and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
This song describes the obedient Son of God who answered his Father’s call to go and work in the vineyard and he followed through even when it cost him his life. He was called to empty himself – making himself nothing. He was called to let go – not just of some temporary claim to comfort and convenience, but he let go of all his divine rights and privileges. He did not count his equality with God something to hold on to for his own benefit or even something to fall back on, but he was called by God to become fully human – and he answered the call to serve – and he became a humble slave. This calling led this obedient son to climb a hill and be crucified. Not only to die but as Paul emphasizes, “even death on a cross.” The most shameful, painful death imaginable.
And all the while the Christ heard a voice calling him to keep going. Keep emptying. Keep humbling. Keep serving. Keep giving. This man – this son – offers his life to us today. He keeps giving to us today as he humbles himself to be present for us in these ordinary signs of bread and wine. And his life in us empowers us to respond to his calling. It opens our ears to hear his voice. We do not have self-defined identity as God’s children. We do not have a purpose that is informed by our own wants and desires. We do not have a calling that affirms the way we are already going and things we are already doing. Our identity, our purpose, our calling, is from the person and work of Jesus. And he is always turning us around – back to him where we find a fuller life, a richer purpose, a higher calling and new ways to empty self and serve.
With Jesus’ life filling us, our calling begins to transcend our desires and begins to shape us into the kind of sons and daughters who say “YES” to the most surprising things. With his attitude – with his life – we actually follow through – all the way. Sometimes this hurts. Sometimes it requires more than we think we have to give. Sometimes its awkward and difficult. Often it puts us in places where we may feel not always up to the task or with enough resources to do the work.
But hark! I hear a voice! It’s the voice of Jesus calling us to take the tasks he gives us gladly. In our second reading Paul gives a promise to the Philippians – a promise that is ours today: He writes, “It is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.” Friends and fellow workers in the vineyard: Let us hold on to that promise. So that HIS work our pleasure will be. And so that HIS work becomes our song.
