Those of us in ministry love this saying: God doesn’t call the equipped. He equips the called.
We all know that sort of queasy feeling we get in the pit of our stomachs when it becomes clear what we’re supposed to do, in any situation. It’s that feeling of: Oh, no. Not me. Not now. I can’t.
We’ve all got our list of reasons why not, don’t we? We do it for everything, from big life problems to small everyday choices. I’m not going to invite my neighbor to church because I don’t want to come across as pushy. I’m not going to make amends with my cousin because she’ll just walk all over me again. I’m not going to say a Rosary tonight because I’m tired and it’ll just stress me out.
However, even if we all put our lists of “reasons why we can’t” together, I don’t think any of us have reasons quite as valid as the apostles. Their job was to convert the nations - and here they are, a bunch of fishermen who haven’t been out of Judea, who speak only their own languages. Were they supposed to preach the Gospel via a particularly compelling game of charades?
But even that big, giant, stop-you-dead-in-your tracks Reason Why We Can’t was nothing, because God had a plan. He didn’t call a bunch of equipped men. He called them, and He equipped them. Cue the tongues of fire!
God doesn’t call us to do His will because we have what it takes. He calls us because He’s ready to give us what it takes. Being a good steward is to answer the call of Christ knowing he will provide.
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