Next Thursday the Church observes the Feast of the Transfiguration. In the Gospel we have the account of the disciples obeying their vocation to follow Him. Peter, James and John were led by Jesus up Mount Hermon and transfigured there before them.
When believers respond to the call of Christ to follow Him, they are so moved by the Spirit of Christ they know that peace for them lies in the doing of His will. St John the Apostle (1. John Chapter 4, verse 19, in a few words, gives the root and reason behind a believer's saying "Yes" to the voice of God inviting him or her to follow Christ. St John, in a brilliant summing up of the meaning of vocation, says of the king of Love and us: "We love Him because He first loved us". He adds some strong words of warning for all "who profess and call themselves Christians": "If a man says `I love God' and hates his brother, he is a liar. For if he does not love his brother before his eyes how can he love the One beyond his sight?"
In the Gospel of St John (Chapter 16, verse 2) Our Lord warns believers: "The time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service." In the first Epistle of St Peter he warns us never to underestimate the influence of the devil: "Be self-controlled and vigilant always, for your enemy the devil is always about, prowling like a lion roaring for its prey. Resist him, standing firm in your faith, and remember that the strain is the same for all your fellow-Christians."
Living up to Christ's ideals is beyond our ability or power. We can do so only with His help. We need, therefore, daily to heed His invitation: "Come ye apart". In communion with Him we shall receive strength and blessing to enable us to fulfil our calling to follow Him. We shall rob ourselves, therefore, of His help if we do not make room in our busiest days for quiet retreat from noise and strife - apart with Christ where we may listen to Him and absorb His spirit for the refreshing and transforming of our own lives.
Jesus calls us! O'er the tumult
Of our life's wild restless sea
Day by day his sweet voice soundeth,
Saying, "Christian, follow me":
As of old, disciples heard it
By the Galilean lake,
Turned from home and toil and kindred,
Leaving all for his dear sake.
Jesus calls us! By thy mercies,
Saviour, may we hear thy call,
Give our hearts to thy obedience,
Serve and love thee best of all."
"Remember, O Lord, that which thou hast wrought in us, and not what we deserve; and as thou hast called us to thy service, make us worthy of our calling, through Jesus Christ our Lord." W.W.