Meditation: Luke 6:12-19 He called his disciples to himself. (Luke 6:13) Imagine Jesus coming down from a night of prayer in the mountains. It is early morning, and his disciples have waited patiently for his return. He gathers them around him, and then one by one he calls out the names of the twelve men who will be his apostles. Imagine how these twelve men must have felt as they heard their names being called. Were they surprised? Excited? Intimidated? Overwhelmed? At this point in time, they didn’t know exactly what this calling would entail, but they did know that it involved a mission of some sort—the word “apostle” means “one who is sent.” At the very least, it would mean being willing to journey with this carpenter from Nazareth as he traveled around. Have you ever been selected for a task that you felt intimidated by and unequipped to fulfill? Perhaps you were surprised that you were called, or felt that surely someone else was more qualified than you. Maybe you were asked to lead a Bible study group or a ministry at your parish. Or perhaps it was something that came to you unexpectedly, like having a child with special needs or an elderly parent who requires constant care. But when God chooses us, he also equips us. He never fails to give us all the grace we need to carry out his call. Do you believe this? Unfortunately, it’s easy to doubt God’s power and call in our lives. Even the apostles had their moments of doubt and confusion. But at Pentecost, when they received the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, they were filled with the power they needed to preach the good news. And look what they accomplished! If you are feeling overwhelmed by your vocation today, step back and take a deep breath. Think about the apostles and the day of Pentecost. Think, too, about Mary and the way she surrendered to God’s calling for her. And most important, ask the Holy Spirit to give you greater confidence in his presence. He likes helping you! He loves it when you turn to him, and he is more than happy to give you all you need to carry out your call. “Lord, you have called me, and I answer, ‘Here I am!’ I trust that you will make up in me all that I lack.”
Posted on: Tue, 10 Sep 2013 11:03:09 +0000
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