Did you ever wish your spiritual life could have all the features of a cell phone?

Wouldn’t it be great to have a spiritual cell phone, one geared just to MY spiritual journey? Turn it on, and I can see how much juice is in my spiritual life. If it reads ‘battery low’, then I know it is time to recharge by a retreat or a day off. Not sure how good my prayer connection is – with just a look, I could see that I have 4 bars out of five. All right! Or zero out of five – hmm – better get down on my knees tonight. ROAMING? Not even sure that I want to think about that. Not sure if this invitation I am sensing is God calling? No problem, there is the Divine Caller ID – and without a question or wonder our doubt – I would know that the particular call before me come from God or the devil or somewhere in between. Needing some advice on how to deal with hopeless situations – St. Jude is on speed dial. Afraid I will miss a “God Moment” in my life? – There’s the audible 5 minute warning. Not ready to respond to God’s invitation when he calls: Just hit the handy IGNORE button, and go on my merry way.

Today’s readings tell us that God’s call is not nearly as predictable or controllable as that. As much as a spiritual cell phone might be wonderful and practical, that is not how God works. Isaiah hears the call in the temple, during the year when he was most likely consumed with grief over the death of King Uzziah who had reigned over 52 years. He was worried about the future, about issues of economy and national security. And God interrupted his daydreaming with a surprising call and invitation.

Paul was on a search and destroy mission against the very Jesus who called him on that Damascus road. No caller ID to warn him or ignore button not to take the call that would completely transform his life. There was no 5 minute warning for Peter. He was simply tuckered out from a hard and unsuccessful night of fishing, and was probably put out when Jesus jumped in his boat and continued preaching. He didn’t even have the luxury of falling asleep, because now he was front and center… And then, in front of EVERYBODY, he told him to set out. No ignore button possible.

A spiritual cell phone might have alerted all three of them to the fact that God was about to break into their words. The technology didn’t exist then, nor does it now. Instead, we are left to live attentive lives, not knowing when or how or where God might be calling us, but expecting that call at any moment.

Since this is a homily using a cheap analogy to cell phone technology, my invitation to you this week is to three things.
1) Be like the Verizon Wireless guy – walking all over the place, checking on your signal from God with that patented “can you hear me now” question. In your workplace – check your signal strength – am I so busy that I’d miss the call. Can I hear you now, in the midst of folding laundry, or eating dinner by myself again, or taking care of an elderly parent? Can I hear you now as I walk between classes, thinking about the homework yet to be done? Can I hear you now during my commute in rush hour traffic?
2) Check your caller ID often. Perhaps it is a challenge that your spouse might give me, or something a son or daughter might say that springs you into the divine. In each experience – ask: Is this God saying this to me?
3) Finally, in those moments when you do recognize a tug or a call or an invitation – whether in church like Isaiah, or on the road like Paul or after a night of failure like Peter – Don’t hit the ignore button. Rather, like Isaiah, ask for the grace and courage to say: Here I am, send me…