We are Called

A David Haas Song from Church on Sunday

In the new tradition of Catholic church music, David Haas is one of the giants. The song "We are Called" was sung at our Church on All Souls Day, and is a good reminder of what We Are all Called to do and be with and for each other in this troubled world.

Here, on You Tube is a version of the song.

Here are the lyrics of that song:

1. Come! live in the light!
Shine with the joy and the love of the Lord!
We are called to be light for the kingdom,
to live in the freedom of the city of God!

Refrain: We are called to act with justice.
We are called to love tenderly.
We are called to serve one another, to walk humbly with God.

2. Come! Open your heart!
Show your mercy to all those in fear!
We are called to be hope for the hopeless,
so all hatred and blindness will be no more!

3. Sing! Sing a new song!
Sing of that great day when all will be one!
God will reign and we'll walk with each other
as sisters and brothers united in love.

The refrain is particularly meaningful: "We are called to act with justice. We are called to love tenderly. We are called to serve one another, to walk humbly with God."

We are called to act with justice. What an interesting word to choose. It is a very godly word, not like hopey change, or anything goes, and stand back and watch people destroy themselves by their actions. No, act with justice. To do that, we need to come to understand justice, remembering that God's Justice Is Mercy.

In Mass, we pray the Confession:

I confess to almighty God, and to you, my brothers and sisters,that I have sinned through my own fault,in my thoughts and in my words,in what I have done, and in what I have failed to do; and I ask blessed Mary, ever virgin, all the angels and saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God.

In that prayer we ask for forgiveness for what we have done, and what we have failed to do. Most of us would like to leave out the phrase "and in what I have failed to do." How often is what I have failed to do, failing "to love tenderly", "to serve one another", and "to walk humbly with God"?

In this highly sexualized world we live in, how often do we fail to first tell ourselves that our actions, thoughts and words are sinful? And when our children and others we love are themselves invited into sexual sin, how often do we turn our backs, and not tell them that what is wrong is wrong, to provide a moral compass, when one is needed.

If I could take back any part of my life, I would take back all the sexual sin in my life, when I thought I was having a good time, and that anything that felt this good couldn't be bad. As I see the effects that my sexual sin has had on those I love in this world, and expect it must also have had on those I cannot even remember, I am deeply saddened, and grateful that God is merciful. I have twice recently spoken with my children about the effects of sexual sin, and my personal remorse for it. Am I speaking to deaf ears? I hope not.

Lord, forgive me for what I have done and for what I have failed to do.