Be astonished by God

Today’s first Scripture reading opens with an accusation from Yahweh: “You have said harsh things about me, says Yahweh. And yet you say, ‘What have we said against you?’ You have said, It is useless to serve God; what good of keeping his commands or of walking mournfully before Yahweh Sabaoth? In fact, we now call the proud the happy ones; the evil-doers are the ones who prosper; they put God to the test, yet come to no harm!’”   Of course, Malachi is talking about people choosing other gods and breaking God’s commandments.  On a lesser scale, do we not, at times, however,  tell ourselves and others that it is useless to serve God  in the way that we feel called to serve?  How many young people called to religious life today have not heard discouraging comments like: “Don’t waste your talents.” Or “You can’t make any money that way.” Or “No way! I don’t want my daughter/granddaughter becoming a Sister.” Young men called to priesthood have heard similar disheartening remarks in response to their call to priesthood: “Absolutely not!”  “Are you crazy?” Yet these vocations are as sacred and as authentic as marriage or the single life. Yes, the call to religious life or to the priesthood  also come from God as much as does motherhood/ fatherhood or the single state.  All of us are disciples of Christ, the Obedient One, who said in Jn 5: 19-21:   “In all truth, I tell you, by himself the Son can do nothing; he can do only what he sees the Father doing: and whatever the Father does the Son does too. For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything he himself does, and he will show him even greater things than these, works that will astonish you.”  Fathers and mothers, you will see your sons/daughters doing works that will astonish you, no matter what vocation he/she chooses, if God’s will is the determining factor.  And young people, like Jesus, may you be able to say:  “I seek to do not my own will but the will of him who sent me” (Jn 5:30).  The measure of your happiness, joy, peace and fulfillment in the vocation to which you are called will astonish you.