GOD’S WORD FOR THE DAY (based on Catholic Liturgical Readings)
DATE: 20TH JANUARY 2017
FRIDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
FIRST READING: Hebrews 8:6-13
PSALM: Psalm 85:8, 10-14
GOSPEL: Mark 3:13-19
THEME: THE CHOICE
A president of a nation has the prerogative of choosing and appointing ministers. In doing so, he (she) keeps in mind the task that lies before him (her) and how best to carry it out.
Our Gospel text for today gives us an account of Jesus’ choice of ministers at the beginning of his public ministry. We are not given the criteria which he used in making that decision. The only piece of information that the text gives to that effect is that he “…called to himself those he wanted; and they came to him. And he appointed twelve, to be with him, and to be sent out…” (Mk. 3:13-14). This piece of statement is interesting because it underlines the mysterious nature of the call of the Lord. He does not call those that he ‘needs’; he calls those that he ‘wants’.
There are people who are very eloquent but do not have the call to be preachers of the Word. Some are very intelligent and yet have not received the call to become theologians and doctors of the Church. There are very holy men and women who have not received the call to become priests. It is not every priest who receives the call to become a bishop.
There is something mysterious about the call of the Lord. For example, why would Jesus call Judas, when the latter had the propensity to betray him? Well, Jesus calls those he wants.
Destiny beckons each one of us and we should never at any point in time allow our humanity to blur our sight from seeing the divinity of the one who is calling us. At the beginning of each new day, the cry of our heart should be, ‘Lord do with me as you want.’ In making this request, may we yield actively to the will of God.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, you have called me in your own special way. May your grace strengthen me in holiness that I may be fruitful in the ministry entrusted to me. Amen.
Andrews Obeng, svd
DIVINE WORD MISSIONARIES
BIBLICAL PASTORAL MINISTRY
(Ghana Province)
“May the darkness of sin and the night of unbelief vanish before the light of the Word and the Spirit of grace. And may the heart of Jesus live in the hearts of all people” (St. Arnold Janssen).