WEDNESDAY, FOURTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
Hos 10: 1-3, 7-8, 12 Ps 105: 2-7 Mt 10: 1-7
CHOSEN TO BECOME WITNESSES
In the reading from Hosea, we have the story of the Israelites who failed in their vocation to be a sign of God’s presence in the world. In the Gospel, we have the call and mission of the twelve apostles who with time proved worthy of their vocation. Both were specially chosen with the specific purpose of giving testimony to the presence of God on earth, to the presence of the Kingdom of God. Prophet Hosea narrates how the Israelites were unfaithful in their commitment to Yahweh. They were not selected due to their merit (Dt 7:7). But as they grew in prosperity, they forgot the statutes of God and went after the attractions of idol worship. Over time they faced terrible consequences for their unfaithfulness.
In the Gospel, we have the list of the Apostles. Like the vocation of the Israelites, their vocation was purely an initiative of Jesus himself. Jesus told them: “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit, fruit that will last…” (Jn 15:16). The disciples were given charge to proclaim that the Kingdom of heaven is at hand. They were faithful to their mission before and after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In the fullness of time, they received the glory Jesus had promised them.
Now it is our turn. As Christians, we are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that we may declare the praises of him who called us out of darkness into his wonderful light (1 Pet 2:9). Are we like the Israelites who forgot their commitment to Yahweh or like the apostles who were faithful to their vocation till the last drop of their blood? Each member of the Church has to seriously make a self-examination of one’s commitment to bringing Jesus to the people and bringing people to Jesus. What is the quality of my life as a believer and the quality of my testimony as a disciple?
Response: Constantly seek the Lord’s face.
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