What do you want to be? Children give various answers to such a question, but the most common factor in their responses is a “noble” job, like a doctor, firefighter, pilot and the like. The reasons for choosing such occupations are to serve and help others, not for financial gratification. I guess children might be heavily influenced by what they watch. As they grow up, their ideas for adult life naturally change and evolve and start to crystallise around the age of sixteen-plus (generally speaking). When they embark on the journey to make it happen, they might conclude that this isn’t really something they want to do. They might drop it and embark on a different journey if they are brave and determined enough and eventually find their purpose, their mission, their vocation. In fact, this is – more or less – the story of everyone’s life. What and who we are today is the result of our past. The variable factor is the balance between proactive and passive interaction with reality. In other words, whether we have allowed ourselves to be tossed around by events and happenings or have taken action to determine their outcome.
“The spirit of the Lord has been given to me, for the Lord has anointed me. He has sent me to bring good news to the poor, bind up broken hearts, proclaim liberty to captives, freedom to those in prison, and a year of favour from the Lord.” This beautiful poetic opening line from the first reading is essentially the slogan for any charity. It’s a very noble cause – bringing relief in various forms to those in need. But look closely, and you will see that this is the description of a gift, a call and a mission. The gift is this: “The spirit of the Lord has been given to me, for the Lord has anointed me.” The following words describe what to do with it, to what end to use it, and what to achieve with it. However, it doesn’t work automatically; the gift doesn’t force the gifted to act accordingly, to carry out the mission and thus to fulfil the vision. It has the potential, but it must be embraced and put into action to achieve its goal. Jesus used this passage in the synagogue in his hometown of Nazareth at the beginning of His public ministry (Luke 4:16-30) to outline His mission. He embraced it: “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” (Luke 4:21) Such a declaration nearly ended His mission there and then as His compatriots dragged him to the cliff to hurl Him down. It was hardly a grand opening when Jesus got abuse and violence, rather than clapping and cheering. Did Jesus give up there and then?
Making the right choices can never guarantee other people’s admiration. In today’s gospel, St John the Baptist, who had carried out the good work of bringing spiritual relief to burdened hearts, was interrogated by those who challenged his ministry: “Why are you baptising if you are not the Christ, and not Elijah, and not the prophet?” Similarly, people can question or mock our choices simply because they are influenced by our adherence to Christian teachings and moral codes rather than the currently fashionable religious indifference and self-centeredness. Instead of dependence on fickle opinions – you can never please everyone – we must build our lives on something much deeper and stable: “I exult for joy in the Lord, my soul rejoices in my God, for he has clothed me in the garments of salvation, he has wrapped me in the cloak of integrity.” People’s opinions and comments can play a vital role in our growth, but we must weigh them against our own values, principles and priorities based on our faith.
“What do you want to be?” isn’t a question for children and teenagers. This is a question that each one of us must ask ourselves every now and again. Looking for answers to such a question will keep us from the usual slipping down from our standards and refresh our commitment to living up to them. Secondly, seeking answers to such a question will help us to find out what practical form or shape our call should take. Because those words apply to each one of us: “The spirit of the Lord has been given to me, for the Lord has anointed me. He has sent me to bring good news to the poor, bind up broken hearts, proclaim liberty to captives, freedom to those in prison, and a year of favour from the Lord.”
