The Chosen

 

The view from President John F. Kennedy's gravesite in Arlington National Cemetery.

    "In these days He went out to the hills to pray; and all night He continued in prayer to God. And when it was day, He called His disciples, and chose from them twelve, whom He named apostles." -Luke 6:12-13

    Jesus has chosen you. He has set you apart from many others to your specific calling, your specific mission in the world. Jesus is preparing you in His divine plan for the mission ahead of you. He wishes that you would continue to ask even more graces from Him as you go along the way, that you and He may live in union, in cooperation for the plan of God. 

    Your vocation is specifically crafted for you, not only in your cross (we as Catholics like to focus on that aspect, for good reason), but also in your joys. There is not a single moment in your life that is not a moment of grace, where God has put all things in motion to bring you-- all of you-- to the good.

    For God alone knows what is in the hearts of man. God alone knows where is best to fill you with overflowing joy; God alone knows where it is best to stretch you, grow you, and prune you to receive the most of His grace. God knows your weakness, and God knows your strength-- and God knows how to lead you in humility, because it is His grace that "is sufficient for you, for [His] power is made perfect in weakness, that the power of Christ may rest upon [you]." (2 Corinthians 12:9)

    "O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my way. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. You beset me behind and before, and lay your hand upon me." -Psalm 139:1-5

    See how God has planned out your steps with purpose, how He has set down your life with love. When Jesus chose His apostles, He spent the entire night in prayer for them, surely for them to always be one with the Father, even as Jesus is one with the Father (see John 17). Their dignity was found in that they were sons of God-- sons, because they knew and followed the Father's will. In the same way, God's will is set before us with overflowing love.

    Jesus, in presenting His disciples with their vocations, comforted them by assuring them of His love,  even when His will is difficult:

    "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father's will. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows... And when Jesus had finished instructing His twelve disciples, He went on from there to teach and preach in their cities." -Matthew 10:29-31 & 11:1

    The Lord has not abandoned us in His plan of love-- in fact, He always goes ahead of us to "teach and preach in [our] cities," to speak before us and through us. For Jesus' desire to bring you to the freedom of His love does not end with you-- He wishes that you would follow along His steps to make known this love to every soul. Jesus prayed to His Father for you:

    "Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to behold my glory which you have given me in your love for me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, the world has not known you, but I have known you; and these know that you have sent me. I made known to them your name, and I will make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.: -John 17: 24-26

    Christ has given you this mission, He has filled you with His love for this mission, He has prayed for you in this mission, and He wishes to join with you in this mission-- you in Him, and He in you. Rejoice in this mission! Be zealous in this vocation of love! Be glad that you have known God's love, that God's love has known you, that all are called to life in this fullness of love!

    And yet... it is hard to rejoice when this love comes with death. For Jesus to give us  the love of God completely, He had to die. For us to join with Christ in this mission, we too have to die.

    When Our Lady stood in adoration at the body of Her son, Jesus, nailed to the cross, She experienced such great pangs of pain at the death of the life of the world. Her son, who had exhausted Himself completely that we might be freed from our sin, was the source of all Her joy, the attention of all Her love. And yet, with such hope did She weep, for She knew that in this way was the love of God made utterly manifest.

    Her Immaculate Heart, though pierced with sorrows, never ceased to burn with passion in love of God, for She knew that the Father brought all things to the good for His children who love Him. She wishes to share this same love with us, that we may never cease to burn with love for Her son who has loved us first. And, as She weeps for Her children who torture Jesus with their sin, She prays that they may be brought to conversion of heart at the total love of Christ.

    Let us join with Our Mother, Mary, in the love of Her sorrowful, Immaculate Heart. With Her we shall love Jesus in all joys and in all pain, and with Her shall pray that all souls may be immersed in the love of Christ. In the same flame of love that burns in Jesus' Sacred Heart, and Our Lady's Immaculate Heart, we shall be lifted up to fulfill most precisely what God has given us for our vocation. Jesus has come for love, and He will lead us in this mission of love, for:

    "I came to cast fire upon the earth; and would that it were already kindled!" -Luke 12:49