The chosen ones. The Chooser
I have chosen you and appointed you to follow me.
There were many rabbis in Israel, peripatetic teachers of the Law. The people could choose one of them. And they were chosen. But it was different with Jesus. Crowds followed him. Probably they were hungry for miracles, and it was not difficult to turn them into disciples. Yet Jesus does not seek them. On the contrary, he says difficult things. So hard, that many leave ...
I chose God. It is my personal choice. Yes, it is a very important step. But my choice is something that I have full control over. I can change it. After all, we often change our decisions under the influence of new facts or circumstances. Our decision is therefore not enough.
I chose you, says Jesus. Moreover: I have appointed you ... Only those in authority can choose and assign someone to specific tasks. Yes, Jesus is in control. He chooses and destines. But His authority is different. We are not servants but friends. I have told you everything I have heard from my Father - we hear. We know what he chose, we know what his path is. I chose you and destined you. But not for tasks that I will not undertake myself. Not for what I do not want to do myself. Not to what is below my dignity. I have chosen you and appointed you to follow me. This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. Up to the limit of giving one's life for one another. Then you will bear fruit that will last.
Now it is time for our step. No longer the choice of one of the many teachers, but the choice of friendship. A relationship that will lead us to new, perhaps not easy paths. The paths on which we will follow Him and walk with him. Consistently and to the end. You do not leave friends ... After all, we know our destiny.
It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you. It was not we who chose Him ... But He chose us ... It was not our choice to follow Him, to listen to His voice. But it was He who stood on the way of our lives and said: Be my disciple ...
Be my friend. But this vocation had a specific purpose: that you go and bear fruit that will remain. That we may go and bear fruit. We should walk, not stand in the same place, that we will be developed. And this development must be visible in concrete fruits and that these fruits would last. What will the consequences be? So that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you.The Father will give you everything, whatever you ask in His name. What does it all mean? Everything means everything. So, we can boldly ask the Father for EVERYTHING in the name of Jesus. Not for some specific matters ... because for other things are not appropriate...We can ask for EVERYTHING.
Let us remember this and about today's most important message: This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.
Until Tomorrow
fr. george