“The God of our ancestors designated you to know his will, to see the Righteous One, and to hear the sound of his voice; for you will be his witness before all to what you have seen and heard.” (ACTS 22: 14-15)

This is the strength of the apostles—“witness before all to what you have seen and heard.” It had to happen also to St. Paul to be an apostle, designated by God “to know His will, to see the Righteous One, and to hear the sound of His voice.” The last, “the smallest”—like he used to call himself, but still—he was “chosen from the world” to be the Apostle of Jesus Christ.

“I chose you from the world, to go and bear fruit that will last, says the Lord.” (Gospel Acclamation)

“Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down, and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him. He said to them, ‘Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.’” (LK 4: 20-21)

The amazing thing with God’s word is that with Him, when we listen to His word—daily readings, especially during Mass, everyday is “today.” Our Lord is not in the past, as a nice memory of the past events, but is always with us, in our present time, among us. And He is always concerned “to bring tidings to the poor, and to proclaim liberty to captives.”

“The Lord sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor, and to proclaim liberty to captives.” (Gospel Acclamation)

“Jesus came with his disciples into the house. Again the crowd gathered, making it impossible for them even to eat.” (MK 3: 20)

Jesus is again in the house surrounded by “the gathered crowd,” hungry for His presence and with different needs. For Our Lord and His disciples, that was their first mission—answering to their necessities, “making it impossible for them even to eat.” The corporal works of mercy and spiritual works of mercy in Jesus’ life intertwine.

“Open our hearts, O Lord, to listen to the words of your Son.” (Gospel Acclamation)

“Jesus went up the mountain and summoned those whom he wanted and they came to him.” (MK 3: 13)

He appointed them in a very solemn way—“went up the mountain” and used His authority—“summoned those whom He wanted.” But also He left a place for us—“they came to Him.” And this is God’s whole strategy—He is always first with His blessing, vocation and grace; we are always invited to respond—to take action and to be in relationship.

“God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.” (Gospel Acclamation)

“…’will speak to him about you. If I learn anything, I will let you know.’ Jonathan then spoke well of David to his father Saul…’’ (1 SAM 19: 3-4)

We can do so much good when talking to somebody. Jonathan’s conversation with “his father Saul” saved David’s life. We can expand somebody’s imagination, inspire them with some creativity in charity, show them the situation from a different angle or just remind them of some positive aspects and changes which you recently found. When we talk, we can save lives “and bring life to light through the Gospel.”

“Our Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed death and brought life to light through the Gospel.” (Gospel Acclamation)

“Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?” (MK 3: 4)

The Pharisees probably answered—nothing; you cannot do anything. But God’s idea for the sabbath was to celebrate His hard work for us, when He finished creating everything for us. Behind the sabbath we have the wonderful, free, creative and joyful gift of self. So, in the same way, our celebration of the sabbath should be focused on “to do good, save life,” rather than doing nothing.

“Jesus preached the Gospel of the Kingdom and cured every disease among the people.” (Gospel Acclamation)

“The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath. That is why the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath.” (MK 2: 27-28)

An end and a means to an end—how often we make some mistakes there, especially in our relationships; how often we are tempted to use somebody to our own ends. She or he can easily be a means for our ends. Even God could be used in my prayers as a means to my ends. Love and Responsibility reminds us: “no one may use a person as a means to an end: neither any man nor even God the Creator.” The answer lies in love, where we look for the common good and common ends. “Our LORD,” who is love, knows how to “enlighten the eyes of our hearts” so that we can answer “to our call.”

“May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ enlighten the eyes of our hearts, that we may know what is the hope that belongs to our call.” (Gospel Acclamation) 

“Does the LORD so delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obedience to the command of the LORD? Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission than the fat of rams.” (1 SM 15: 22)

Obedience keeps us focused on God’s will—I do whatever is commanded by God; sacrifice, even dedicated to God, keeps us focused on our will—I do whatever I want to do. Sacrifice looks nice but could be dangerous for our souls; obedience, even if sometimes difficult, brings a lot of good fruit to us.

“The word of God is living and effective, able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.” (Gospel Acclamation)

“No more shall people call you ‘Forsaken,’ or your land ‘Desolate,’ but you shall be called ‘My Delight,’ and your land ‘Espoused.’ For the LORD delights in you and makes your land his spouse. As a young man marries a virgin, your Builder shall marry you; and as a bridegroom rejoices in his bride so shall your God rejoice in you.”

To our God we are like His bride and He rejoices in us. Many mightfeel “forsaken” or “desolate,” but to Him we are “His delight” and “espoused”—“for the Lord delights in us and makes our land his spouse.” What a dignity, what a privilege and what a challenge!

“God has called us through the Gospel to possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Gospel Acclamation)

“Jesus went out along the sea. All the crowd came to him and he taught them. As he passed by, he saw Levi, son of Alphaeus, sitting at the customs post. Jesus said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And he got up and followed Jesus.” (MK 2: 13-14)

Now I understand better the English phrase “by the way” because Levi’s vocation was born exactly this way, when Our Lord “passed by, and saw Levi, son of Alphaeus,” and “said to him, ’Follow me.’” No great novena, hundreds of rosaries, special preparation, retreats and spiritual directing. Nothing like this. In passing. God calls us when we are ready and when we are not. Levi “got up and followed Jesus” without any question, any comments, or any assurances that he was completely unworthy and for sure that Jesus should invite somebody else. Jesus said, “he got up.”

“The Lord sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor and to proclaim liberty to captives.”