Read Colossians 2:6-15, Psalm 145 and Luke 6:12-19
“In these days he went out to the mountain 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 (Luke 6:12-13).
When last did you make a very important decision? Are you about to decide on something right now? Do you have a myriad of choices before you such that you are quite confused? In our Gospel passage today, Jesus teaches us an important lesson: Consultation.
Luke tells us that Jesus spent an entire night in prayer. Jesus consulted with God all night long. It was only after this consultation that Jesus made His selection; first, He chose twelve persons – a number symbolic of the twelve tribes of Israel; secondly, all twelve persons were men; thirdly, none of these men was perfect – each of them had character flaws here and there, some will still not believe after many miracles, one would deny Him and one would eventually betray Him.
Dear friends, the greatest and best consultation is that which we do on our knees. Prayer is the best consultation so long as we actually make an effort to listen to God in prayer. Prayer is not a monologue, we do not simply talk to God, we also listen to God.
For Jesus to have chosen these very persons after an all-night consultation shows that God’s ways are not our ways. In truth, even the “foolishness” of God is wiser than the highest human wisdom.
St. Paul continues in this same light in our first reading of today when he noted: “See to it that no one makes a prey of you by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the universe (such as horoscopes, palm reading, future telling etc.) and not according to Christ” (Colossians 2:8). In truth, the best consultation is prayer.
Let us pray: Let Jesus, help me to always make the right decisions, Amen.
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Tuesday of week 23 in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: Colossians 2:6-15, Psalm 145 and Luke 6:12-19).