There’s something strange in the neighborhood. Who Ya Gonna Call?
There’s something weird and it don’t look good. Who Ya Gonna Call?
Most of you probably know the song and the movie quite well. Ghostbusters was a huge hit back in the day and the new version is doing quite well in theaters now. If there was ever any dreadful danger or spooky situations, the Ghostbusters were the best at saving the day. The song is still great and the movies are still funny, but spooky ghosts and goblins aren’t real. Proton packs and ghost traps don’t exist. There’s nothing spooky to be afraid of.
But, there are some real things that are strange and even scary like balancing the check book, going to high school, going away to college, becoming parents, and changing diapers. You know what I’m talking about – the real problems of life. What happens when you’re afraid to talk to your friend about their poor lifestyle choices? Where do you turn when the doctor tells you it doesn’t look good? What do you do when you don’t know how to fix your life? How does one survive a five-day mission trip with 60 junior high teenagers? Who Ya Gonna Call?
We have our own problems as well, don’t we? Our lives are filled with trouble, pain and loss. Our world is filled with immorality, greed, violence, murder, gossip, hatred, disrespect, and open idolatry. When these problems and issues close in around us, Who Ya Gonna Call?
We need to call upon the Lord! He is the God of grace and peace. He tells us, “Don’t be afraid. I am with you.” Jesus has taken away our excuses and our fears. Jesus is the one who took the punishment we deserve and gave us the life we could never earn or ask for. This is the same God who called Abraham and calls us to faith. And he continues to call out to us in his Word and with his sacraments. He calls us to trust him and to follow him through thick and thin. And this all begins with prayer.
We need to trust in the Lord, call on him, and listen to his responses. Take Abraham as an example. He called on the Lord and the Lord answered not just once, not twice, but six times. Every time Abraham came with another request the Lord answered. Now, our Lord doesn’t always say yes. He can say no. He can say maybe. He can say wait. He can say I’ve got something else in store. We just need to be patient and to listen, for God will answer our prayers.
Do you think the Lord has changed his mind about how much he wants to listen to us? Do you think that our loving God wants us to look in different directions for guidance and help? Do you think that the Lord wants us to call the Ghostbusters when we have questions or problems? Of course not! Jesus wants us to trust in him and to call on him, and we will never be disappointed. God has given us his grace and peace. God wants us to use our gifts to help and serve one another. He has given us life within him and there is nothing to fear.
Whenever we have anything going on in life and we want to say thank you or help or sorry or please, Who Ya Gonna Call? Don’t worry. The Lord is already listening.
