The call of Isaiah to become a prophet serves as a model for each one of us in our vocation to be apostles, those who bring the good news of Jesus into our world. The call is situated in a particular time and circumstance: “in the year king Uzziah died.” And the call happens during an encounter with God who is experienced as wonderful beyond words. This produces in Isaiah a sense of unworthiness. “I am a man of unclean lips.” But God is not deterred by the unworthiness but instead produces cleansing. When the call then comes the prophet is ready to respond: “Here I am send me.” That is the vocational pattern: our situation leads to an encounter that frightens yet frees us.
JULY142018
By Church Staff