DAILY HOMILIES #Call

The fact that one is anointed, chosen, ordained, or consecrated or has received the sacraments does not remove a person’s habits, thoughts, desires, and sinful inclinations.

While Ezra, the priest prayed for the people during the evening sacrifice with torn garments (symbolising contrition just like the people of Nineveh did), the twelve disciples are sent to various towns and villages to evangelise. This shows us that ministry involves an active prayer life on one hand and the daily interaction with the people

As we celebrate the feast of St. Matthew today, we not only reflect on lessons to be learnt from the manner of his call, we also reflect on the fact that God has called each of us as well through the various gifts and talents he bestowed upon us.

In the case of Abram, God wanted him to leave his Father’s house. In your case, it might be that God wants you to leave a particular sinful relationship or stop a bad habit. It might be that God wants you to take your prayer life more seriously and so on.

Jesus sent them out two by two. As far as winning souls is concerned, no one ever succeeds alone.

God never calls us just for our own sake. No! Whenever He calls, it is always so that we too can, in turn, call others. When God called Matthew, he brought all his friends to Jesus and there was a great party in his house. Many of those often regarded as sinners (for the sake of their job as tax-collectors) repented and started walking in the light from that day on. As Andrew went on to call Peter, Jesus desires that each one of us would bring at least one person to Him in the course of our lifetime. In truth, our mandate as Christians is to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation.” (Mark 16:15).

Following Jesus at all demands a certain level of letting go and breaking off from the world. As Jesus would say: “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” (Matthew 16:24-25).

Andrew was fond of introducing people to Jesus. This characteristic of Andrew is what I call basic evangelisation. Bring people to Jesus and let Him take over from there. Just as Andrew introduced Peter to Jesus, the Feast of St. Andrew introduces the Church to the season of Advent. If you notice, advent is always the closest Sunday to the feast of St. Andrew.