THE WORD
1 Sm 24,3-21 / Mk 3,13-1922
Jesus went up the mountain and summoned those whom he wanted and they came to him. He appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) that they might be with him and he might send them forth to preach and to have authority to drive out demons: (he appointed the twelve:) Simon, whom he named Peter; James, son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James, whom he named Boanerges, that is, sons of thunder; Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus; Thaddeus, Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot who betrayed him.
IN OTHER WORDS
The mission of the twelve apostles simply began with an invitation, a call. However, this was no ordinary call. The summoning of the Twelve entailed great responsibility; that is, sharing in the mission of Jesus himself! Vocare is a Latin word meaning “to call.” Each one, I believe, has a call. Sometimes, we tend to associate “calling” exclusively with a calling to religious life. In fact, a calling comes in many forms and ways. God meets us in the situation where we are, and where we are right now and what we do is our calling. What we need to do is to off er what we are doing to God and lift it up for His greater glory.
To call means to communicate. Communication involves a two-way process between a listener and a speaker; it involves dialogue. In communication, words play a vital role. However, one important thing that is sometimes taken for granted in communication is eye contact. I can imagine how the rst apostles were touched by that look in Jesus’ eyes. No matter how sinful and unworthy they were, they did not and could not resist the call. They left everything and followed Jesus. Thus, a calling begins with that amiable and amorous gaze of Jesus!
When Jesus calls, he never goes wrong. He calls the unworthy, the weak, the sinner. Those who followed him were the unqualified. In times of doubt and in an abominable situation, always remember that gaze in Jesus’ eyes. He calls all of us in so many ways. How about you, are you willing to join the march of the unqualified? Don’t dare miss and ignore that gaze.
- Sem. Karl T. Cabanalan | CKMS, Quezon City
An annual project of Logos Publications, The WORD in Other Words Bible Diary contains daily scripture readings and reflections written by priest, brothers, and sisters of the three congregations founded by St. Arnold Janssen (the SVD, SSpS, and SSpSAP). It hopes to serve as a daily companion to readers who continually seek the correlation of the Word of God and human experience. The Word in other words 2016
