"Tag, You're It!"

TAG-You’re it! That’s what Jesus is telling the apostles in Sunday’s gospel. Lk 9:51-62 “And to another he said, “Follow me.” But he replied, “Lord, let me go first and bury my father.” But he answered him, “Let the dead bury their dead. But you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” And another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say farewell to my family at home.” To him Jesus said, “No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the kingdom of God.”

When Jesus calls he wants an immediate answer. He needs us to be ready immediately, just as if we are in a game of tag. We can’t wait until we have gone out to eat one more time, finished a project, made more money, or taken care of some other business. We have to be ready to answer Him immediately.

Because we are Christians we know that our call is to follow Jesus. We always have to be ready to answer yes to His purposeful call. Worrying and planning won’t make us ready and if we are not ready for God, then we are not yet “fit for the kingdom of God.”

God needs us to be willing and ready to say YES! Immediately.

Yes, to being a witness—we never know when God is calling us to be a role model, regardless of our age.

Yes, to speaking our faith—we never know when God is putting someone in our path or at our door who needs an encouraging word and the hope and love that He gives us to share.

Yes, to loving our spouse, unconditionally—we never know when we are the last person they have to depend on for hope, emotional strength or encouragement, or even just a listening ear.

Yes, to becoming a parent—not, “wait, until I ‘earn’ or ‘save’ a little more before we add to God’s family.

Yes, to helping or spending time with a child—we never know when God is giving us the opportunity to teach what it means to love.

Yes, to living healthy—not to wait until we are sick to begin taking care of ourselves, but to live a healthy lifestyle—physically, spiritually, emotionally and intellectually.

Yes, to a vocation—regardless of our career choice, God’s choice, His purpose for us, may not always be ours.

Yes, to reading His word and seeking the Truth—we never know when we will need His Truth and wisdom.

Yes, to taking time for a prayer—there is always something else to do, and if we don’t say yes to prayer, we may forget to ask God for help, and He can’t answer if we forget to ask.

Yes, to being called home—we never know when our last minute will be with our family and friends, when we will be in an accident or get sick, or will just fall asleep into His waiting arms. We never know when this will be our last chance to answer God’s call.

Dear God, Thank you for “tagging” your apostles, the pope and priests, the saints, Mary, the martyrs, to be my role models for saying yes, without hesitation, to your call. I’m sorry for the times you have had to ask me more than once to answer your call; for the times that I have asked you to wait until I finished something that was my choice, not yours. Help me to always be ready and willing to say “Yes!” to your call, to be tagged—“I’m it!” Amen.

Are you ready to be “it?” What is it in your life that you are putting before God’s call? Are you ready to answer God’s call?

God says, “TAG! You’re it.”

Charlotte