3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
How different would things be if Jesus were beginning his earthly ministry today, rather than 2000 years ago? I’m sure they would be very different. For example, in today’s Gospel, He’s choosing his first four apostles. He just walks up to them and asks them to follow Him. Very simple.
Would it be the same today, or might He be a little more selective. In today’s world, He might have even asked them to take a pre-employment test. If that were the case, here’s how the results might have come to him, in a memo.
From: Holy Land Human Resources Consultants
To: Jesus of Nazareth
Subject: Pre-employment screening.
Jesus,
Thank you for submitting the resumes of the twelve men that you have picked for managerial positions in your new organization. All of them have taken our battery of tests. We have tabulated the results through our database and have arranged personal interviews for each of them with a staff psychologist and vocational aptitude consultant.
It is the staff opinion that most of your nominees are lacking in background, education and vocational aptitude for your enterprise. In short, they exhibit no team concept. Specifically:
Simon Peter is emotionally unstable and given to fits of temper.
Andrew demonstrates no qualities for leadership.
The brothers, James and John, place personal interest above team loyalty.
Thomas shows a skeptical attitude that could undermine morale.
James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus definitely have radical leanings and registered a high score on the manic-depressive scale.
One of the candidates, however, shows real potential. He is a man of ability and resourcefulness, meets people well and has contacts in high places. He is highly motivated, ambitious and responsible. We recommend Judas Iscariot as your controller and right-hand man.
It’s funny, but it makes an interesting point. Who were these twelve guys, anyway? Why did Jesus chose those particular men to be His Apostles? An even better question might be: Why did they say “yes”?
This is at the very beginning of Jesus ministry. There have been no miracles. He hasn’t been to Canna yet. No water has been turned to wine. Yet they dropped everything and followed Him. They left their equipment. They left their families. They just said “yes”.
We know John and James had parents. Zebedee is their father. We know they had a mother. She wanted John and James to sit on Jesus’ right and left sides. But, they left mom and dad behind and went with this stranger.
Simon and Andrew may have had parents. Evidently Simon was married because Jesus would later heal his mother-in-law. But, they left their boat and their nets and went with Jesus. They didn’t even think about it. Matthew tells us that “At once they left their nets and followed Him.”
John and James “immediately left their boat and their father and followed Him.”
These men, and eight more just like them, gave up everything to follow Jesus. Can you imagine the commitment it must have taken to make such a drastic change? I wonder how many of us would do the same?
Personally, the commitment I made in becoming a deacon is nothing compared to the commitment the early followers of Christ made. I didn’t have to quit my job, or leave my family. Yet, rather than accepting Christ’s call ”immediately“, or “at once“, I waffled all through five years of formation. Almost up to the day of my ordination I had doubts about whether I was doing the right thing. Even after ordination, I really wasn’t 100% sure.
But, as time has passed, and I see that, even with all my faults, God works through me to help others, I honestly can’t imagine why anyone would give this up. God called. I answered. It’s like a marriage. I love my wife and I love my ministry more every day. Obviously, it’s not like that for everybody.
A good friend of mine has been a priest for twenty-six years. Next week in the “Review” you will read that he has been relieved of his assignment and is taking a leave of absence. That’s church-talk for planning to leave the priesthood. This is a good man, an excellent priest. Yet, something is causing him to want to change his mind, even after a quarter of a century of service to the church. I would ask you to remember him, and all priests, in your prayers. I don’t know why he wants to leave, but I know he’s going through a very rough time right now.
Even one of the original Apostles changed his mind, with tragic consequences. Judas betrayed the Lord for a few pieces of silver.
As I thought about today’s Gospel, preparing for this homily, my original thought was “why did Jesus need the Apostles, anyway?” He’s the Son of God. He certainly didn’t need any help. In fact, the twelve were often more trouble than they were worth. They did exhibit all the flaws mentioned in the imaginary memo.
Then I realized, He didn’t need them. You and I are the ones who need them. What a brilliant plan! Jesus came to earth to connect with us. But He knew that, even in human form, we would still see Him as God. We can’t identify with perfection. We need the Apostles to show that we’re all called, in spite of our faults.
Some of us are emotionally unstable and given to fits of temper, like Peter.
Some of us, like Andrew, demonstrate no qualities of leadership.
Some of us, like John and Jams, place our own interests above team loyalty.
Some of are even more skeptical than Thomas, and can undermine the morale of our fellow Christians.
And some of us even have radical leanings like James and Thaddeus.
But God has called each one of us for some specific purpose. Maybe we don’t know what that purpose is. Maybe, we don’t think we’re good enough. But the Apostles, with their flaws and failings, are an example to us that nobody’s perfect (well almost nobody) and God loves us all anyway.
So, pick an Apostle, any Apostle. Which one reminds you of yourself? I seem to have a little bit of each one in me, though I think I’m the most like Peter. Look at your favorite’s faults and flaws. Remember that Jesus chose him and He chose you and me. We’re all part of His plan to spread the Gospel to one another. Whether we choose to follow Him, or not, is up to us.
Would it be the same today, or might He be a little more selective. In today’s world, He might have even asked them to take a pre-employment test. If that were the case, here’s how the results might have come to him, in a memo.
From: Holy Land Human Resources Consultants
To: Jesus of Nazareth
Subject: Pre-employment screening.
Jesus,
Thank you for submitting the resumes of the twelve men that you have picked for managerial positions in your new organization. All of them have taken our battery of tests. We have tabulated the results through our database and have arranged personal interviews for each of them with a staff psychologist and vocational aptitude consultant.
It is the staff opinion that most of your nominees are lacking in background, education and vocational aptitude for your enterprise. In short, they exhibit no team concept. Specifically:
Simon Peter is emotionally unstable and given to fits of temper.
Andrew demonstrates no qualities for leadership.
The brothers, James and John, place personal interest above team loyalty.
Thomas shows a skeptical attitude that could undermine morale.
James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus definitely have radical leanings and registered a high score on the manic-depressive scale.
One of the candidates, however, shows real potential. He is a man of ability and resourcefulness, meets people well and has contacts in high places. He is highly motivated, ambitious and responsible. We recommend Judas Iscariot as your controller and right-hand man.
It’s funny, but it makes an interesting point. Who were these twelve guys, anyway? Why did Jesus chose those particular men to be His Apostles? An even better question might be: Why did they say “yes”?
This is at the very beginning of Jesus ministry. There have been no miracles. He hasn’t been to Canna yet. No water has been turned to wine. Yet they dropped everything and followed Him. They left their equipment. They left their families. They just said “yes”.
We know John and James had parents. Zebedee is their father. We know they had a mother. She wanted John and James to sit on Jesus’ right and left sides. But, they left mom and dad behind and went with this stranger.
Simon and Andrew may have had parents. Evidently Simon was married because Jesus would later heal his mother-in-law. But, they left their boat and their nets and went with Jesus. They didn’t even think about it. Matthew tells us that “At once they left their nets and followed Him.”
John and James “immediately left their boat and their father and followed Him.”
These men, and eight more just like them, gave up everything to follow Jesus. Can you imagine the commitment it must have taken to make such a drastic change? I wonder how many of us would do the same?
Personally, the commitment I made in becoming a deacon is nothing compared to the commitment the early followers of Christ made. I didn’t have to quit my job, or leave my family. Yet, rather than accepting Christ’s call ”immediately“, or “at once“, I waffled all through five years of formation. Almost up to the day of my ordination I had doubts about whether I was doing the right thing. Even after ordination, I really wasn’t 100% sure.
But, as time has passed, and I see that, even with all my faults, God works through me to help others, I honestly can’t imagine why anyone would give this up. God called. I answered. It’s like a marriage. I love my wife and I love my ministry more every day. Obviously, it’s not like that for everybody.
A good friend of mine has been a priest for twenty-six years. Next week in the “Review” you will read that he has been relieved of his assignment and is taking a leave of absence. That’s church-talk for planning to leave the priesthood. This is a good man, an excellent priest. Yet, something is causing him to want to change his mind, even after a quarter of a century of service to the church. I would ask you to remember him, and all priests, in your prayers. I don’t know why he wants to leave, but I know he’s going through a very rough time right now.
Even one of the original Apostles changed his mind, with tragic consequences. Judas betrayed the Lord for a few pieces of silver.
As I thought about today’s Gospel, preparing for this homily, my original thought was “why did Jesus need the Apostles, anyway?” He’s the Son of God. He certainly didn’t need any help. In fact, the twelve were often more trouble than they were worth. They did exhibit all the flaws mentioned in the imaginary memo.
Then I realized, He didn’t need them. You and I are the ones who need them. What a brilliant plan! Jesus came to earth to connect with us. But He knew that, even in human form, we would still see Him as God. We can’t identify with perfection. We need the Apostles to show that we’re all called, in spite of our faults.
Some of us are emotionally unstable and given to fits of temper, like Peter.
Some of us, like Andrew, demonstrate no qualities of leadership.
Some of us, like John and Jams, place our own interests above team loyalty.
Some of are even more skeptical than Thomas, and can undermine the morale of our fellow Christians.
And some of us even have radical leanings like James and Thaddeus.
But God has called each one of us for some specific purpose. Maybe we don’t know what that purpose is. Maybe, we don’t think we’re good enough. But the Apostles, with their flaws and failings, are an example to us that nobody’s perfect (well almost nobody) and God loves us all anyway.
So, pick an Apostle, any Apostle. Which one reminds you of yourself? I seem to have a little bit of each one in me, though I think I’m the most like Peter. Look at your favorite’s faults and flaws. Remember that Jesus chose him and He chose you and me. We’re all part of His plan to spread the Gospel to one another. Whether we choose to follow Him, or not, is up to us.
posted by Mike at 10:42 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home