Today's readings speak to a profound truth about our identity in Christ: we are a chosen people. The First Reading from Ezekiel reminds...
Today's readings speak to a profound truth about our identity in Christ: we are a chosen people. The First Reading from Ezekiel reminds us that God's grace is not a random act, but a deliberate decision to heal and to save. He says, "I will sprinkle clean water upon you to cleanse you from all your impurities." This act of choosing is not for our own glory, but so that we might become a new creation, with a new heart and a new spirit. This chosen status is a calling, an invitation to a life far greater than anything we could imagine on our own.
The Gospel reinforces this, as Jesus calls his disciples, inviting them to leave everything behind and follow Him. This call is personal and demanding, and it is a call that extends to each one of us. It is not enough to simply be chosen and called; we are then commissioned to go forth and bear fruit. We are sent to be His hands and feet in the world, to make His love known to others.
The life of Saint Helena, whose feast we celebrate today, perfectly illustrates this journey. She was not a particularly notable figure until her son, Constantine, became Emperor. But after her conversion, she took her calling seriously. As an elderly woman, she was commissioned by her son, but more importantly by her faith, to go to the Holy Land. She used her position and wealth to excavate the sacred sites of Christianity. Her perseverance led to the traditional discovery of the True Cross, a tangible symbol of the faith she was commissioned to serve. She shows us that our faith must move from a personal grace to a public mission. Let us reflect today on how we are living out our calling and commissioning, and pray for the grace to be as faithful to God’s mission as Saint Helena.
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