The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary invite contemplation on our life as a response to our call to dwell in God.
Consider our call
The reading from the Letter to the Ephesians refers to Christian community as a dwelling-place for God.1 Psalm 19 praises God’s Glory in Creation and the Law. In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus Chooses the Twelve Apostles.
Larry Gillick, S.J. comments the apostles were “sent” to unify God’s people by hearing the Good News of who they essentially were, “The People of God.” These people were different according to language and customs, but they were to be known, not by these accidental distinctions, but by their God-given essence.
There is much division in our world, Church, nations and families these days. Much of this is because of a loss of essential identities. Division is caused so often, I offer, because we have made the outside things more important than the sacred-inside, that is, our real identities. I am for this person as leader, I hold to this priority. I am not of that color. I do not speak that strange language or do those odd religious things or wear those silly clothes. The more I define you by the outside of you, the more I am forced to claim myself by my outside and make it my everything. I become a thing defined by my ways which become a wall and a form of blindness. I only see in you what makes me separate from you and you and you too!2
Don Schwager quotes “Jesus chose fishermen and tax collectors to be apostles,” by Ambrose of Milan, 339-397 A.D.
"It says, 'He called his disciples, and he chose twelve of them,' whom he appointed sowers of the faith, to spread the help of human salvation throughout the world. At the same time, observe the heavenly counsel. He chose not wise men, nor rich men, nor nobles, but fishermen and tax collectors, whom he would direct, lest they seem to have seduced some by wisdom, or bought them with riches, or attracted them to their own grace with the authority of power and nobility. He did this so that the reasoning of truth, not the grace of disputation, should prevail."(excerpt from EXPOSITION OF THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 5.44)3
The Word Among Us Meditation on Luke 6:12-16 comments that we don’t know much about these two apostles; they have no major part to play in any of the Gospels. We do know that Simon was a Zealot, a member of a political party seeking to overthrow the Romans, so perhaps he was something of a revolutionary. Although one New Testament letter bears his name, we know even less about Jude; he’s a popular saint today because he’s the patron of impossible causes.
So if you serve quietly and without much notice, know that your role in God’s kingdom is still important to him. Some days you may feel unappreciated or overlooked. Some days you may even feel like you are failing. But that’s not how God feels. He has chosen you for a reason, and he is confident that, drawing on his grace, you will be able to accomplish all that he has called you to do. “Lord, help me to fulfill the calling you have given me.”4
Friar Jude Winkler shares insight about the readings today.
Richard Rohr, OFM, comments on the role of contemplation and action around the theme of Original Goodness in our Way of life. We recognize the apostles as leaders who show us the piety, study, and action that propagates the Good News.
References
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