GOD’S WORD FOR THE DAY (based on Catholic Liturgical Readings)
DATE: 5TH MAY 2017
FRIDAY OF THE THIRD WEEK OF EASTER
FIRST READING: Acts 9:1-20
PSALM: Psalm 117:1-2
GOSPEL: John 6:52-59
THEME: THE CHOICE OF GOD
A piece of clay appears dirty and useless but in the hands of a potter it turns out to be useful and clean – good enough to serve on the dining tables of kings.
When sent by the Lord to go and lay hands on Saul, Ananias said, “Lord, I have heard from many people about this man and all the harm he has been doing to your holy people in Jerusalem”(Acts 9:13). In response the Lord said, “Go, for this man is my chosen instrument to bring my name before gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel” (Acts 9:15). Later on in life Paul would write, “I am the least of the apostles and am not really fit to be called an apostle, because I had been persecuting the Church of God; but what I am now, I am through the grace of God, and the grace which was given to me has not been wasted. Indeed, I have worked harder than all the others — not I, but the grace of God which is with me” (1 Cor. 15:9-10).
God often chooses broken people and makes them signposts of hope to other broken people. He picks up flawed men and women and sends them on a mission to a flawed world. Think of it, a good number of the people in Scripture who were chosen by God for service had issues – Abraham was old, Jacob was a cheat, Samson had a lustful heart, David was a murderer, Jeremiah was young, seven demons were cast out of Mary Magdalene, Peter would deny his master three times and the list goes on and on. However, in the hands of God, all these people became useful and have left indelible prints on the pages of salvation history.
Even if in the eyes of everybody you are nobody, always remember that in the eyes of God you are somebody. If you allow the Lord who created the whole world out of nothing to touch you, you would become a vessel of His grace.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I turn to you in my emptiness and nothingness. Repair my brokenness and use me as a vessel of grace. 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).