The Catholic Calendar for Friday, September 21, 2001
The Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time
St. Matthew, apostle, evangelist
Complete story: http://www.christdesert.org/public_texts/martyrology/
Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Ephesians 4:1-7,11-13
Psalm 19:2-5
Matthew 9:9-13
Full text: http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/index.htm
A Reflection from Holy Scripture . . .
What a challenge St. Paul gives to us... "Walk worthy of the vocation
in which you are called." (Ephesians 4-1) So often today we see
vocation as OUR CHOICE totally, not one to which we are called.
Ultimately that is so, in that we agree or affirm that we have been
chosen, but we might forget that the initial move was on the part of
God. We know that even the Blessed Mother was called to be the Mother
of Christ. God gave her the freedom to say "yes" or "no".
We see a literal example of being chosen in the manner Christ
selected His apostles. With St. Matthew, Christ just approached him
and asked that he follow Him. Whatever our state in life, God leaves
the final choice to us. He has given us the gift of free will.
Our biggest gift, vocationally, is that all of us are invited to be
adopted sons and daughters of God and thereby heirs of eternal life.
We can legitimately call God "Abba", "Father". What an honor! This
calls for tremendous respect for ourselves and others. It influences
how we see ourselves and impacts on our manner, dress, language and
activities. We are children of God! If everyone could realize this
invitation what a difference it would make in our world! We can be
the ones to extend that invitation to others! Everyone can come! It
has already been paid for by the Blood of Christ!
- Joan of Jesus, ocds
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