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Friday, May 14, 2010, St. Matthias, Pentecost Novena - Day 1
Acts 1:15-17, 20-26, Psalm 113:1-8, John 15:9-17
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/nab/051410.shtml
CHOSEN, NOT CHOOSY
"It was not you who chose Me, it was I Who chose you to go forth and bear
fruit." —John 15:16
The Lord chose Matthias to be an apostle and replace Judas (Acts 1:24ff).
It was not so much that Matthias chose the Lord, but that the Lord chose
him (see Jn 15:16). It is the same for us. Although we choose to accept
Jesus as our Lord, choice in the Bible is not so much what we do, but what
God does. Biblically, "pro-choice" is "pro-God's choice," not our choice.
Pro-choice is pro-obedience to God's will, that is, submitting to the Lord
and denying ourselves.
Christians today hardly ever think of choice in this way because we are
conformed to the world's self-centered mentality (see Rm 12:2). Even when
we focus on God doing the choosing and ourselves being the chosen, we
still seem brainwashed into a myopic self-centeredness. For many
Christians, being chosen means being preferred over other people. We're
chosen for the promotion, the team, or the honor. However, being chosen
biblically is not so much comparing ourselves with others as accepting a
call to share the gospel. We are not primarily chosen instead of someone
else. We are chosen to witness for the risen Christ (see Acts 1:22) and to
bear fruit for His kingdom (see Jn 15:16). We are chosen not for
selfishness but fruitfulness.
Prayer: Father, send the Spirit to break the bondage of selfishness in my
life.
Promise: "They prayed: 'O Lord, You read the hearts of men.' " —Acts 1:24
Praise: St. Matthias was honored by God to be a healing element in a group
that had been broken by treachery and deceit.
(For a related teaching, order our leaflet, "Job Performance for Jesus",
or on audio AV 43-3 or video V-43.)
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Rescript: In accord with the "Code of Canon Law", I hereby grant my
permission to publish "One Bread, One Body" covering the period from April
1, 2010 through May 31, 2010
†Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of
Cincinnati, October 9, 2009
The rescript is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be
free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have
granted ecclesial permission agree with the contents, opinions, or
statements expressed.
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