Mark 6:7-13
 Chosen by Christ
by Rev. Jack Peterson
Reprinted by permission of "The Arlington Catholic Herald"

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Mark wrote to explain Christ
to the new Gentile converts.

Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over unclean spirits.  He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick - no food, no sack, no money in their belts.  They were, however, to wear sandals but not a second tunic.  He said to them, "Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave.  Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you, leave there and shake the dust off your feet in testimony against them."  So they went off and preached repentance.  The Twelve drove out many demons, and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.

"In him we we were also chosen ..."  These words from St. Paul in his letter to the Ephesians speak loudly to us as followers of Christ.  What does it mean to say that you and I have been chosen by Christ?

The scriptures today teach us three aspects of what it means to be chosen by Jesus Christ.  The first is that we are "summoned."  Mark the Evangelist at the start of our Gospel passage for today, begins, "Jesus summoned the Twelve ..."  Interestingly, the Webster definition for "to summon" mentions two statements: "to issue a call to convene" and "to call upon for specified action."  First, Jesus chose the Twelve and indeed, all of his disciples, to convene, to gather around him.

To be chosen by Christ is initially to be called by our precious Lord to draw near to him and be a disciple.  As Master, Jesus invites us to sit at his feet and be personally welcomed by him.  It is a great privilege to simply dwell in Jesus' presence.  Gathered as Christ's disciples at his feet, we are forgiven our sins and healed by his immeasurable love.  We receive instruction from the Word-made-flesh and are transformed by the renewal of our minds with the beautiful truths of our Christian faith. In the end, to be chosen is to come to know and love Jesus as the greatest of all treasures.  All who have been chosen by Christ and filled with so many graces, turn naturally to thank our Heavenly Father: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, as he chose us in him ..."  To be chosen by Christ also means that we are sent by him out into the world to be salt of the earth and light of the world.  "Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two ...  So they went off and preached repentance.  The Twelve drove out many demons, and they anointed with oil man who were sick and cured them."

Once we have encountered Christ and begun to be transformed by his love and truth, we are sent to bring others to Christ and pass along these graces that flow from encountering Jesus.  While it is true that we are sent on this mission by 'Christ, the going forth should be something that simply results from profound gratitude.  When we have known his love and received these precious gifts of healing, Joy, and peace, we find it impossible not to share the joy, hand on the faith, and sacrificially serve our family members and our neighbors in need.  It is the only fitting response to the blessings and greatness of God.

Let's be clear: we are all sent by Christ, not just the priests and the consecrated men and women o the church.  single and married men and women, the large majority of Jesus' disciples, are critical to the building of God's kingdom on earth.  They too are sent into the world - the whole world - of education, business, science, art, medicine, IT . . . you name it.  Every baptized Christian is sent to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ to their small corner of the world, principally by the example of their lives.  Secondly, the lay members of the church are sent to penetrate their places of work and recreation with Gospel values. Christians can't leave the Gospel truths at the door on the way into work or school.  Furthermore, when appropriate for their place of work, study or play, and according to the prompting of the Holy Spirit, Christians must speak of Christ in ways that encourage and invite others to seek Christ in their lives.

The last aspect that I wish to address for today is the praise of his glory.  When we hear Christ's summons, grasp that we are personally chosen by him, begin to be transformed by his amazing grace, and make our feeble efforts to bring him into out small corner of the world, we give glory and praise to God as his sons and daughters.  "In him we were also chosen, destined in accord with the purpose of the One who accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will, so that we might exist for the praise of his glory ..."  In fact, Paul uses the phrase, "to the praise of his glory" three times in today's brief passage from Ephesians.

My brothers and sisters.  I invite you to pause today and take a moment to relish the fact that when, by God's grace, you strive to know, love, and serve God on this earth, you truly exist for the praise of his glory.