People who are in transition know what a journey is about. They have been in one place, but are headed to another. They do not speak as one who has arrived, but as one who is on the way.
The journey is a time-honored metaphor for a life in the Christian faith as well. From the journey of Abraham in response to God’s promises, to the journey of the Israelites out of Egyptian slavery through the wilderness, to the journey of the two disciples on the road to Eammaus, Scripture makes it clear that a journey is a privileged time, a crucial passage. The Second Vatican Council called the Church a “pilgrim people,” and in our relationship with God, we speak not as those who have arrived, but as those who are on the way.
In today’s mobile society, it is frequently the case that we have a series of jobs, homes, and personal relationships. We are often in transition, even if these changes represent only a kind of restless wandering. Therefore, the language of journey speaks to us about the life we lead, with all its joys and struggles. Inquirers have a special reason to find the metaphor of journey appropriate, however. A life-changing period in their faith journey is before them, even if only dimly realized. They are at a turning point on their journey.
Around the theme of journey, several conversion issues cluster:
Everyone who appears as an inquirer has come forward for a reason. These reasons vary widely, ranging from the influence of special people and the impact of life-changing events, to the slight stirring of mere curiosity. Whatever the case, we believe that in each person’s concrete circumstances - this story, this encounter, this event - the unique call of God to that person is made manifest.
The conversion issues surrounding the topic of call are many. Who is the God who calls us? How do we discern God’s call? How do we choose to respond? Some of the following issues may also emerge for individual inquirers during the precatechumenate.
Am I called to become a member of this community at this time in my life? Here is the pressing question which every inquirer must answer personally before the Rite of Acceptance can be celebrated with true assent. For embarking on an initiation journey is not just a matter of finding a community I like, nor is it a matter of suiting the expectations of my family and friends, or simply “choosing a religion.” As much as personal choice and communal support are part of Christian initiation, coming to follow the way of life of the Gospel is first and foremost a response to a call from God.
“God loved us first,” the first letter of John tells us (1 John 4:9). The call of God precedes any action on our part. It is pure grace, complete gift. In our “do it yourself” culture, this may well be a new idea for many inquirers. Yet in looking at our lives in the light of faith, we can begin to see evidence that indeed God has been calling us, even before we knew it. God’s call is something personal, addressed to us in our individuality, from a God who knows and loves us intimately. It is also divine initiative, continually happening throughout the world.
Like the first disciples, who were asked to leave their fishing nets to follow the Lord, our call will cause us to leave something behind. We may find in ourselves a resistance to following the call. These are the struggles that attend real change. Like the call of the first disciples also, however, the call we hear brings us blessings without number. As Abraham and Sarah discovered, the promises of God are trustworthy. They lead us on to answer the call.
While the question of our call from God is pressing one for the first stage of the initiation process, it remains a live issue, albeit in a different way, all the way through the process of initiation and beyond. The call to a life of faith and discipleship is lifelong experience.