You are chosen, but listen...

WORD 2day: Saturday, 1st week in Ordinary time

January 15, 2022: 1 Samuel 9:1-4,17-19,10:1; Mark 2: 13-17

We see two scenes in the Word today. In one, Samuel tells Saul, 'go before me to the high place' and tells him, 'you are to eat with me today'. In the other scene, Jesus tells Mathew, 'follow me' and goes to eat with him in his house! Going before and following; calling the other to eat with oneself and going to eat in the other's house... they may seem contrary actions but the meaning is the same: You are chosen.

That you are chosen does not mean, you are one up on the others! You may be the most handsome man, you may be the most influential or moneyed person, that does not make you worthy to be called. It is not your merit that makes you 'chosen'! The world might think so and they may convince you too, with their opinions and judgements. But you know who you are!

But your strength lies in the Lord. It is the Lord who is your strength and the strength of the Lord gives joy to God's children. As long as you acknowledge the strength of the Lord and rely on it, you shall shine on earth before the human kind. Everyone shall see your light - some may wonder and some may praise God, but you will shine and that is true.

Finally, you are chosen for a specific purpose and that is your life's mission. As you sit at the Lord's table, listen to the Lord and pay attention to what the Lord expects of you, for the Lord sends you to the poor and weak, to the sinners and those who are struggling with their lives that you may bring them to God, to their consolation.