Inspired and called

The psalmist in the texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today proclaims the praise of God, Who is King of the Nations. The psalmist describes the gathering of the people of Abraham from all nations under the rule of God. The Messiah expected by the Jews to arise among them is to fulfill the desires expressed in this psalm. The text from the Acts of the Apostles tells of a Jew named Apollos who encounters Paul in Ephesus. He comes from Alexandria and is an eloquent speaker and authority on the Scripture. He has experienced the baptism of John and is inspired to preach and teach about Jesus as the fulfillment of the Promise in the Scriptures. Friar Jude Winkler comments that some scholars think that Apollos fits the description of the background of the unknown author of the Letter to the Hebrews. The inspiration to move and live as a missionary of our relationship with God does not require prior authorization or certification by religious authority. Authentic passion to know and grow in our relationship with God will take us to seek the instruction of the more experienced and mature in the faith.  The Gospel from John describes the manner of growth which many experience in relationship with Jesus. Our role to live as Jesus followers is cultivated through our life with development of Love rooted in the indwelling Spirit. This process of living Love enables our person to present Jesus to others and it transforms our desires from self centered to those of Jesus. We begin, as John instructs, to ask in the Name of Jesus. Our faith and trust, according to Friar Jude, opens our being to accept the response of God to our requests as the loving response which is according to His Will.