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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