The lady, who had been involved in a prayer group at IT Sligo when I was there as a student, commented to me that she knew that something was going on in me about the call of priesthood because of the way I led prayer there at that time. She mentioned that on one particular evening, I had called on everyone present to offer themselves with a full heart to the will of God in their lives.
A short time later, I was in Maynooth.
Our readings today are all about call. Our first reading which comes from the very first book of the Bible, Genesis, is about father Abram. Before he becomes Abraham, he is called Abram, and here we have one of the first moments that Abram does what God asks him to do by leaving 'your country, your family and your father's house, for the land I will show you. ... So Abram went as the Lord told him.'
The second reading, from the second letter of St Paul to Timothy, one of the earliest letters of the Apostle Paul, reminds Timothy, and the Church he oversees, that we are called to be holy.
Finally, our well known gospel of the transfiguration reminds the apostles and us: 'This is my Son, the beloved; he enjoys my favour, listen to him.'
In short, we hear the primary call of God like father Abram and we take a core action: leaving the familiar and the known to journey into the unfamiliar and the unknown – we realise like the apostle Paul that it is not enough to listen and to act, but that, having been saved in Christ, we are now called to holiness. And, what is holiness in today's gospel? It is listening carefully to Jesus Christ, who, according to the voice of God in today's gospel is in the first place, before anyone or anything else.
This journey is the most frightening journey of all, from the familiar to the unfamiliar, from the comfortable to the uncomfortable, from the known to the unknown. Who knows what will happen if we listen to the call of Jesus deep in our hearts?
This is the journey of the heart. It is a journey from our heads into that place inside us all where God dwells, transfigured, and lighting us up. The journey of the heart is one that is undertaken by priests and prophets, poets and artists. It is a journey that we are all invited to be a part of.
Sometimes we have to do something to begin the journey inside – like Abraham and the apostles, we go to a place like a mountain to retreat, to reflect, to pray and to come close to God. Here in Sligo, we are spoiled for choice – we have religious sites by the dozen, and beautiful places in nature that allow us access to our hearts.
Stand at the top of Ben Bulben on a fine day and tell me that you are not touched deep inside. Tip your toes in the ocean that is on our doorsteps. Make a pilgrimage to the holy well at Tobernalt near Carraroe. Make a visitation to our beautiful Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. Pray in the chapel of Adoration at the Cathedral, or down at St Bernadette's on the riverside. Make a trip out to Skreen and to the community of prayer at Holy Hill hermitage. Book your place for this summer's season on Lough Derg. Plan a pilgrimage to Lourdes, Fatima, Medjugorje, or maybe World Youth Day this August – how's about a day at our beautiful national Shrine at Knock? Read a spiritual book. Learn a new way to pray, or renew an old one. Pick up your rosary beads. Ponder on the Stations of the Cross. Ask someone to show you if you don't know how.
The journey to the heart begins on the outside, but it finishes on the inside. God is waiting for you, don't hesitate to start today.
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