When he was at table with them, he took the bread. He blessed the bread, and broke it, and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognized him!(Luke 24:13-35)

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Hoping to be a "perfect fit"

Prayer for the Day

Dear Jesus, help me to be a “good interview” with You.  Find me to worthy to be a perfect “fit” in Your plans for the Glory of the Father. Amen

Reflection

Personnel departments and managers spend hours poring over resumes and letters of recommendation, looking for the “right” person to hire.  The needs of a position matched with an applicant’s adequate credentials are needed for the perfect “fit.”

Whatever happened that night when Jesus spent hours “in communion with God” we don’t know for sure, but most of us who are in positions to interview and hire would be amazed at “the Twelve” whom He selected from the disciples to be His most intimate followers and co-laborers.  Of the twelve, here is a sampling of their “job performance”:  one denied knowing Him when questioned about their relationship, two others were hot-tempered and rash (“Call down fire from heaven to destroy them!”), one wouldn’t believe without seeing, and one, finally, betrayed Him, handing Him over to those who would put Him to death.  So much for careful screening!

But then again, with the exception of the last, all underwent remarkable transformations—conversions—leading them to become fearless proclaimers of the Name, even to their own deaths.  I guess it’s true what I read somewhere: if it is true that God often calls those who are qualified, it is also true that He “qualifies” those whom He calls. 

There is encouragement here for all those who “have been called.”  God often provides “on the job training,” drawing out of us what we did not know was there, and transforming us into His instruments in ways we could not possibly imagine.  When faced with their inadequacies, all—with one exception—acknowledged their weakness and professed their faith anew.  Therein is found the seed of conversion and deeper witness.  Peter’s “Lord, you know that I love you” and Thomas’ “My Lord and my God” show us how to respond in the face of our own inadequacies and failures. 

May we, in discovering our shortcomings, allow the Lord to “qualify” us for the task to which he has called us.

Post Script:

As I was getting ready to post this, Sarah put the following message on Facebook:  “I live a pretty blessed life.”  After responding with, “I agree.  Praise God” I got to thinking about Jesus in today’s Gospel.

News travels so fast in our modern, electronic world that we often fail to realize what actually happened two thousand years ago. Without the aid of newspapers, the internet, cell phones and text messages and countless other communication methods, the message and promise of one man spread with great speed and ease across great distances. The message and promise were so strong that multitudes came to Him in great numbers to hear Him and to be healed.

This man was none other than God Incarnate, in the form of His Son, Jesus the Christ. This, my brothers and sisters, is just one more miracle (although it is not commonly recognized as one) and shows the awesome power of the Holy Spirit to work in the lives of the people without modern methods.




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