Living the Call

Most often, when asking question, who am? or what is my identity? we answer the question by turning to what we do, our occupations, talents, hobbies, etc.  “I am a doctor.”  “I am a social worker.” “I am an artist.”  “I am a musician.” 

St. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians’ passage invites us to an about-face.  That is, St. Paul invites us to start with who we are and then to move to what I do.  Specifically, St. Paul says, “Live in the manner worthy of the call you have received.”  The “call,” the choice God has made for us in Jesus, is a given.  We have been baptized, we have been given the gift of faith, we are daughters and sons of God.  That’s who we are. Now, accepting that identity, we are asked to live like we believe it’s true.

St. Paul gives us practical means to do just that: “live. . . with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love.”  Live with humility because we have been chosen, not because of our goodness, our worthiness, but out of God’s graciousness.  Live with gentleness because God is that way with us, even when we need correction.  Live with patience because God is patient with us, forgiving us again and again.  Bear with one another through love, put up with one another’s faults and foibles, by asking to receive the heart of Jesus who “puts up” with us by exercising his immense divine love, always extending his hand of mercy.

The scripture today first asks us, do you know who you are?  And then says, now, become who you are, “live in a manner worthy of the call you have received!”