Saturday of week 15 in Ordinary Time, II

On being chosen

Matthew 12:14-21

All of us have own plans on earth, replacing what God wants us to do in the world.  By own actions we thought we can just move about the earth and follow our dreams.  But imagine a dream followed that is not in accord with God's dream - death is sure to follow.

In the midst of life's plans, there is Someone who calls us, chooses us and sends us on a mission.  His name is God.  And He will not take it sitting down until his will is followed by everyone.

Let's focus on "being chosen" vs. "choosing ourselves."  The former may in the passive tense, but it connotes a much direct reference on the One who chooses us, God himself.  While the later would consist of a stream of self-motivated actions with us moving according to our own whims and caprices, the former directly reflects the very image of God who chooses us make this world a better place.

God chooses us, but unfortunately, we couldn't detect it because we are so busy saving our lives.  How do we live a life chosen by God?

First, for the chosen, God's spirit dwells in him.  Jesus, whose spirit is God's spirit, is the concrete image of the God's presence in the world.  We as human beings are meant to manifest God's spirit and not our own.

Second, we are able to proclaim the true faith and not be swayed by false ones.  Millions of schools of thoughts and philosophies continue to be created.  But chosen will be able to detect truth from lies.  The worst form of lie is the absence of God or even the irrelevance of religion as a way of life.  From our view of religion, our way of life is affected and how we spend our time, talent and treasure.

Finally, the chosen will directly reflect God's love.  He would not be violent or vindictive, but salvific as God's love saves us.  Our dreams  will account to nothing if we don't live out God's love.

The result: all nations will put their hopes in God because His way is the way of truth, love, and life.  Everything points to Jesus.



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