When my father died, my mother gave his heavy black cloak to the Rector of the parish. As she handed it to him, the Rector's face lit up and he exclaimed "the cloak of Elijah". Of course he was referring to the incident described in First Kings 19, when Elijah the prophet found Elisha ploughing in the fields with twelve yoke of oxen. He ran beside him and threw his cloak over him and that has ever since been a symbol of the handing on not just the responsibility but also in this case, some of what the former owner had stood for.
There are many accounts of people being called in the Bible - that is where we get the word Vocation. Several weeks ago, I referred to the call of Isaiah - there are many others: Abraham, Moses, Samuel, David and in the New Testament, Mary at home, Zachariah in the Temple, James and John in their boat, Matthew at his seat of custom, Paul on the road to Damascus. These are some well known ones - they are all called from their daily pursuits.
God does not call us and then leave us to get on with it. He is always there supporting and upholding his loved ones. He is the creator God who inspires us with new ideas. He is the son who became one with us and loves us enough to die for us. He is the Holy Spirit who fills us with the power we need to carry out the project he gives us. Those projects can be large or small. Sometimes the little ones turn into big ones to which he gently leads us. Perhaps something comes crashing down. We must learn to reach up to him and let his hand pull us out of our distress. Let us be assured that there is a purpose for each one of us as long as we live. He is there with us. In the words of St. Paul " may your spirit and soul and be body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, the one who calls you his faithful and he will do this" 1 Thessalonians 5 : 23
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