A Dramatic Word

Welcome to Word for the Week, the series in which I:

share my experience of hearing God’s Word in Mass last weekend,
explore what I believe the Lord is calling me to do about that Word, and
ask how this Word might impact your life, as well.

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Two Sunday’s ago, I was at a local evening Mass with David and our kids. Everyone was well behaved in our pew. Everything was relatively calm in our family life, too! But the Lord knows how to get my attention: through dramatics.

The second reading, from Isaiah, sounded apocalyptic. It began with a mystical vision. Isaiah saw the Lord on a throne, with angels gathered. The house that he was in started to shake and smoke filled the place. Isaiah’s response was to say, “Woe is me, I am doomed!”

And those, in turn, are the words that I carried with me out of Mass.

It made me grin, every time I thought of it as the week progressed. Firstly, because it’s so over the top. Secondly, because shortly after this declaration from Isaiah, the Lord calls out the words that I’ve heard and sung so many times, “Whom shall I send?” (Isaiah 6:8) Yet I never reflected on Isaiah’s daunted preface until now.

As I wrote this reflection, I found an awesome commentary on this passage of Isaiah. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ website explains how “there are two roots from which (doomed) could be derived; one means to perish...” the other “to become silent.” They also reference how such silence is shown to be “an appropriate response to the vision of the Lord in the Temple.” And, according to their commentary, Isaiah likely implied both meanings.

So, God regularly allows me to be aware of Himself via specific words and symbols. And last week was no different. There were times when I felt a volatile exclamation rising up in me: “I’m doomed!” And other times, I felt silent before God in a way that left me clueless about the future and a bit flabbergasted in the moment.

In what turned out to be a particularly shocking week for me, I thought of Isaiah regularly. The Word helped me to accept my own dramatism, and also to sense Jesus laughing at me—in a brotherly way. It felt as though God was reminding me that yes: the feelings are intense. And that even still, there’s an important mission ahead of me.

This pattern is reminiscent of the story of David and Goliath. David was small and frail compared to the massive giant. Maybe when he first learned about the battle, David initially thought, “I’m doomed!” (Even if not, King Saul and his army thought they were doomed!) Ultimately, David accepted the call with trust. And God saw him through.

What’s the “giant” in your life today? Is there something facing you that might tempt you to think that you’re doomed? Maybe your response is one of dismay, of deep silence, or a mixture of both. If so, let’s pray: Lord, you healed Isaiah and called him to a prophetic mission. As you call us, please give us the healing we need in order to proclaim your word. Together, with Isaiah, help us to respond, “Here I am... send me!” Amen.

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Special thanks to VIP Patrons:

Dick Safranski
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Julian Padilla
Jessica Cook
Kate Hicks
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Frances Jones
Elizabeth Herberg

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Beautiful (?) Obedience

Welcome to Word for the Week, the series in which I:

share my experience of hearing God’s Word in Mass last weekend,
explore what I believe the Lord is calling me to do about that Word, and
ask how this Word might impact your life, as well.

---

At Mass last weekend, I had trouble breathing. Because of mask wearing. And also because my kids didn’t seem to stop fidgeting and/or talking the entire time. Mental note: I need to pray about this guilty feeling when my kids are more than silent in public.

Actually. I just remembered that my friend Anel spoke graciously into this situation over a year ago. It was at a time when going to Mass was my biggest challenge of the week. She asked, “What does David think?”

“David thinks it’s good for us to go to Mass as a family.”

And with an enduring mix of sass and gentleness, Anel reminded me that my responsibility is to my husband and family first. In other words, maybe others are annoyed that my kids are squirmy or making noise. Is that my main concern?

I think this has to do with my Word for the Week: “He learned obedience through what he suffered.” (Hebrews 5:8)

As I asked the Lord, “What do you want me to do about this word?” The answer in my heart was simple but not so easy, “Be obedient.”

Obedient in what way?

At some point this week, I realized: A. I am still (still) not being called to initiate live events, and B. I am so very happy. These realizations did not occur at the same time! Yet somehow I moved from being majorly disappointed that David wasn’t excited about my latest get-people-together plan, into an overwhelmingly joyful contentment.

It was clear that one springs from the other. Obedience to God gives way to serenity!

This morning, as I sat down to write Word for the Week, I reflected upon this psalm setting from today’s Mass reading. Perhaps you, as well, are being tempted by “good” things to do. (See examples above: to have quiet children at Mass, to facilitate a backpacking retreat, etc.) And yet! If the things that take our attention aren’t bringing peace, then God has something even better for us.

I’ll invite you to take a deep breath and ask the Holy Spirit, “How are you calling me to be obedient to your voice today?” Let’s close with this psalm as we listen for the Lord’s answer:

(From Psalm 40)

Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.
Sacrifice or oblation you wished not, but ears open to obedience you gave me.
Holocausts or sin-offerings you sought not; then said I, “Behold I come.”
Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.
“In the written scroll it is prescribed for me,
To do your will, O my God, is my delight, and your law is within my heart!”
Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.
I announced your justice in the vast assembly;
I did not restrain my lips, as you, O Lord, know.
Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.
Your justice I kept not hid within my heart; your faithfulness and your salvation I have spoken of;
I have made no secret of your kindness and your truth in the vast assembly.
Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.

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Special thanks to VIP Patrons:

Dick Safranski
Jordan Mendez
Julian Padilla
Jessica Cook
Kate Hicks
Sara Chacon
Kelly Wesaw
Deacon Tim & Lily Roberto
Carrie Brzezinski

To become an Amanda Vernon Patron and receive exclusive rewards, signup at amandavernon.com/patron.