"I chose you"

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In the gospel, Jesus tells his disciples to be on guard against the hypocrisy of the Pharisees. He then says that everything that is now covered will be uncovered and that everything now hidden will be made clear. So what is it that will be made clear to us? Saint Paul in the first reading, his letter to the Ephesians 1:11-14,. tells us of the richness that we have received. In Christ, he tells us, we have been chosen to be God's own people. First he chose Israel to be his people, before the birth of Jesus. Then when Jesus began his mission, he called a group of disciples to follow him. They were not the educated leaders but fishermen and a tax collector. ''Follow me,'' said Jesus to Peter and Andrew, then James and John left their boats and nets and family and followed Jesus. Now Paul continues, we too have heard the message of the truth and the good news of salvation and we have believed.

 

God acted through our parents, family members and teachers who brought us to be baptized and to believe in Jesus and love him, but in John 15:16 Jesus tells us, ''You did not choose me but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit." But he does not leave us alone. ''I will not leave you like orphans. The Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name will teach you everything and remind you of all that I have said to you.'' Jesus tells us how we will know the Holy Spirit is within us. ''If we do not know to pray as we ought, the very Spirit intercedes for us.''(Romans 8:26).May your Holy Spirit, Lord, help us to respond to your love every day of our life.