Have you ever noticed that God does not necessarily always choose the “obvious” candidate for a job? When, for example, Amaziah tries to dismiss the prophet Amos, who isn’t saying what the community wants to hear – Off with you, visionary! – Amos responds that his being a prophet was not his choice but God’s: The Lord took me from following the flock, and said to me, Go, prophesy to my people Israel. God knows Amos is a sheep breeder and dresser of sycamores, but God chooses him anyway, because God knows Amos’s gifts. Even when he is rejected, Amos will persist, for such is God’s will.
Jesus similarly chooses unexpected candidates to send for with the good news in Mark’s Gospel. The Twelve, whom he sends out two by two, giving them authority over unclean spirits, come from modest backgrounds; some are fishermen. Their only instruction is to rely upon the Lord in all things; they are to take nothing for the journey. Jesus also reassures them that if they encounter rejection, this is not a sign of failure: leave there and shake the dust off your feet. Remain filled with God’s presence, in other words, and leave the negativity behind. Jesus’ intent is simply that they be fruitful. They have heard what God proclaims, as Psalm 85 puts it, and know that near indeed is salvation to those who fear the Lord.
In his Letter to the Ephesians, Paul reminds the community to pay attention to its call. The Ephesians have been blessed in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, Paul says, and, like the disciples, they have been chosen for the praise of God’s glory. Like them we are destined to be brothers and sisters of Christ, one with him through baptism, recognizing the grace of God at work in our lives and living from it. Like the Ephesians, we are meant to give witness to that good news, revealing God’s justice to all and drawing them to God as we praise his glory… even when the good news is rejected by those to whom we reveal it. Our common identity in Christ calls us to no less.
This post is based on Fr. Pat’s Scripture class.
Image source: www.wordclouds.com
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