Every day God asks, “Whom shall I send?

Last week we heard the story of Jeremiah being sent by God to deliver a message to the people. This week we hear of how Isaiah was called to be a prophet and how Peter, James, John and Paul were called to follow Jesus. In faith each one responded with “Yes Lord! Send me!” The Church teaches we are called by our baptism to a lifelong journey to spread the gospel to all nations. Our lives can be a beacon for others when we ourselves accept the Lord’s invitation to follow Him in Faith.

Isaiah, Paul and Peter at first all express their feelings of unworthiness, and sinfulness. Through the grace of God their humility becomes what one might call a healthy-humility, in that, they are not paralyzed by their weaknesses. Indeed, they find a God-grounded confidence and with courage respond joyfully and fully to God’s call in their lives. Humility is one of the virtues of the Christian disciple and steward. Healthy-humility means that “We do not think less of ourselves; it simply means that we think of ourselves less (C.S. Lewis).”

“Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?’ ‘Here I am,’ I said, ‘send me!’” (Isaiah 6:8)

Every day – in little ways and in big ways – God asks, “Whom shall I send?” Whether it is someone to take on a new ministry or just someone to open a door for an overburdened stranger, God constantly looks to see if we are willing to respond with the eagerness that Isaiah showed when he answered, “Here I am, send me!”

In that first reading from Isaiah we get a glimpse of the ultimate aim of Christian stewardship: Giving glory to God. “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God of hosts! All the earth is filled with his glory!"

This proclamation inspires the familiar hymn we sing at the end of the Preface of the Eucharistic Prayer; a very ancient proclamation in our liturgy. We were born to give God glory, and we proclaim it by the way we live the Eucharist and bear witness to the gospel of Jesus Christ. As we approach the purifying season of Lent let us ask ourselves: Are we committed to a life that gives glory to God?