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Gospel Reading for May 14, 2024 – John 15: 9-17
CHOSEN
Jesus said to his disciples: “As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.“I have told you this so that my joy might be in you and your joy might be complete. This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father. It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you. This I command you: love one another.”
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“It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain. . .”
There is a big difference between being CHOSEN by God, or us choosing him. When we are CHOSEN, it is God who sends us on a mission. But, when we choose him, we are the ones supposed to be sending him on a mission. How can we, mere creatures of God, send him on a mission? Clearly, the option to choose is God’s, not ours. It is mere pride if we think we were the ones who chose him, something like the attitude of the Pharisees in Jesus’ times.
God chose and appointed us to be on a mission so that we may live our lives in the service of humanity and all that he created for us. When we are faithful to this mission of being witnesses of his love by a life of humble service to the rest of humanity, especially to those in need; of being united with him each day in prayer personally and communally; and of proclaiming him in our lives through word and deed, we are given all we need to succeed. And, this is because he chose us.
As we celebrate today the feast of St. Matthias, the apostle, we remember how he was chosen among the 70 disciples of Jesus, to replace Judas Iscariot, the one who sold Jesus for 30 pcs. of silver. His mission was to preach the gospel to barbarians and cannibals, quite difficult, but like us, was given all he needed to succeed.
Thank you so much Lord, for giving meaning to our lives by choosing us, giving us a chance to take part in your undertakings!
