Being Called to Love
Last night a group of us who had been on a pilgrimage to Israel a year ago happened to find ourselves at a talk about Islam. Apparently we had all planned to go without knowing the others were coming, so it was a great joy to see each other.
The talk was at The Osborne in Rye, and the speaker was Patrick S. Ryan, Professor of Religion and Society at Fordham University. The program, Understanding Islam, was sponsored by the Sterling Park Residents Interfaith Committee.
Dr. Ryan began by playing a recording of the Call to Prayer, which brought back memories of of lying half-awake in our hotel room just before dawn.
During the question and answer, Celia, one of the members of our group asked an interesting question. She noticed that the call is all about respect for God, but there is no mention of love for God, a fundamental part of our Christian faith.
Father Ryan explained that Islam is a lot closer to Judaism than Christianity in its views of God. While Muslims recognize Jesus as a messenger of God, they do not see him the way Christians do.
So, what is the call of the Christian?
Philip found Nathanael and said to him, ‘We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.’ Nathanael said to him, ‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth?’ Philip said to him, ‘Come and see.’ John 1:45-46
I am so thankful that I was called to believe before I had a chance to think about it. By that I mean, I was baptized as a baby. The choice of my foundation was made for me. I wasn't like Philip or Nathanael, living and believing in one relationship with God before discovering another.
These brothers, though, were Jews who had already heard from John the Baptist that one was coming who was different than he.
So, I guess they were prepared for the call. But as we see, Nathanael wasn't too sure when he heard the one they were expecting came from Nazareth, not the birthplace of kings.
What was it like following Jesus?
He was a devout and practicing Jew, so I suspect he would call his followers together and lead them in prayer, teaching them from Scripture, thanking and praising God as he did.
Was it easy to follow him?
Probably not. We know they often misunderstood what he was telling them, but it is clear that there is one lesson they must have received and mastered.
Today, we, those who have come to follow Christ without having to make that choice, know that the central message of our faith is to do something that is very difficult - to love God with our whole heart, soul and mind, and to love one another.
That call is somewhat different than the call to prayer we heard and discussed last night. I wonder if we are as devoted to answering it as our Muslim brothers are at answering their call.