Today's readings emphasize God's CALLING upon each of us and the importance of COLLABORATION within the Body of Christ to achieve ...
Today's readings emphasize God's CALLING upon each of us and the importance of COLLABORATION within the Body of Christ to achieve spiritual COMPLETENESS.
In the First Reading from Ephesians, we are urged to live a life worthy of the calling we have received. Paul speaks of humility, gentleness, patience, and bearing with one another in love, highlighting the virtues that foster unity. He emphasizes that there is one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all. This foundational unity calls us to work together, using the diverse gifts Christ has bestowed upon us – apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers – for the building up of the body of Christ. This collaboration is essential for the completeness of the whole body, until we all reach unity in faith and knowledge of the Son of God, attaining to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.
The Gospel illustrates this calling with the story of Matthew. Jesus sees Matthew, a tax collector, and with a simple command, "Follow me," He calls him to a new life. Matthew's immediate response shows the power of this divine calling. He leaves everything and becomes a disciple. Furthermore, when Jesus is criticized for eating with tax collectors and sinners, He responds with the profound statement, "I desire mercy, not sacrifice. For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." This reveals the inclusive nature of Jesus' calling, extending even to those considered outcasts. This act of calling Matthew, an imperfect individual, to become part of His inner circle demonstrates how God uses diverse individuals in His work. Their subsequent collaboration in spreading the Gospel contributed to the completeness of the early Church.
Together, these readings invite us to reflect on our own calling. Have we recognized the unique gifts God has given us? Are we actively collaborating with others in the Church to build up the body of Christ? Let us strive to live out our calling with humility and love, working together so that we may all grow towards spiritual completeness in Christ.
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