He chooses us

Memorial of Saint Peter Claver, priest

First Reading: 1 Corinthians 6:1-11
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 149
Gospel: Luke 6:12-19


If you wish to observe an amazing journey of change and transformation, look no farther than the journey of the butterfly. At the early stage the butterfly is a larva known as a caterpillar. It is at this stage that it begins to eat quite a bit in preparation for its change. It eats a lot because it needs the proper nourishment in order to grow and develop. The butterfly then becomes a pupa, which we tend to think of as a cocoon. It is during this resting time that the butterfly nears the end of its transformation. After the pupa stage is complete, a beautiful butterfly emerges from the cocoon. It has been a long journey, but the change is now complete. The butterfly goes out into the world showing all of its beauty and God's glory to all. The butterfly naturally understands its role in the world and it does what God chose it to do.

Each of us has a story about our lives and our journey of faith. Many times we look back on our lives and we think about the things that we did wrong or think about all the things that we would do differently. It is hard for us to understand that the hard times and the past pains were all preparation for our lives now. During our lives we go through all sorts of things that equip and prepare us to serve God more fully today. He chooses each of us for a purpose in this world. In the gospel today, we are told that after Jesus finished prayer on the mountain, He chose twelve disciples. Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called a Zealot, and Judas the son of James ,and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor. All, but the later, called to follow Jesus during His ministry, then to lead and grow the early church. He chose them.

When He chose them, they then became more than they were. In the first reading today, Paul reminds the church of Corinth that they are more than they were before. He reminds them of what some of them used to be, and goes on to tell them; "but now you have had yourselves washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God." (1 cor 6:11) Paul reminds them how much they have changed and why they should conduct themselves differently. They are, as we are, each called by God; not to be as we were, but to become more. We are meant to be all that God created us to be, but we cannot get there if we resort back to our old ways. Paul was made aware of this danger, and so he warned the church of Corinth, and us today, of this.

Many times in our lives, we want to look at ourselves and our situations and think that we are the reason for us being in a job, a career, position of authority, a parent, a friend, etc. But it is not so, in fact it is not our doing at all. God has chosen each of us for a purpose, and He is the reason that we are where we are, where we have been, and where we are going. We need to step back more often and ask God where He wants us to go and what he wants us to do, instead of telling Him what we want to do and where we want to go.

May we all let go of our pride, humble ourselves and open ourselves to the will of the Father. After all, it was He who chose us.

Father above, we thank you for this day that you have given us. We thank you for choosing each of us for a purpose and we praise you for all your many blessings. We pray for the strength and the courage to turn away from our old bad habits and to break away from all those things that hold us back from your love. Lord we pray for all those who wish to turn to you, but struggle in their journey. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.