Whispers

We had a visiting priest at our parish this past Sunday, a passionate and dynamic speaker with a passion for the priesthood.

At one point during his homily, just when the boys’ attention was beginning to wander, he smacked the pulpit with his open palm and shouted into the microphone, “Young men!  I am speaking to you!  God is calling you to the priesthood!  His Church is crying out for you!  You are called to be priests!”

My own young sons sat up a bit straighter, their attention focused completely on the pulpit.  He went on to speak of the satisfaction and wonder of being a priest.  He was selling it to both the boys in the pews and their parents.

“You are called to be priests!”  His call was still in our ears as we walked to our car.  I put my arm around my 10 year old and gave him a squeeze.

“So, you’ve been called.”  I said casually (or not.) “Are you going to answer the call?”

“I think I will,” he responded, “but I was called a long time ago.”  He thought for a moment and smiled at me. “Father was funny this morning yelling about it from the pulpit.  He called us by yelling.  When God calls you, He whispers.”