“Many are called, but few are chosen.” This is what the Gospel says today. Each of us is called by God in a special way. But the sad reality is that not all people can respond to God’s call effectively. People fail. Parents whose vocation is the sacramental marriage and family life could hurt their children. Priests and religious people may have their shortcomings. Amidst all these, who wins in the end? The one who perseveres, prepares, and puts on the wedding garment. The Holy Mass is God’s holy banquet, and we are all invited to it. Thus, the effects of the Holy Mass should not be contained within the sacrament alone. Rather, it should extend outside the church where we become bearers of Christ’s light for others. We must do good works and speak good words – what will help our fellowmen. The wedding garment could symbolize our new identity in Christ where we let go of our old selves. In shedding out the former self, we embrace the authentic Christian life centered on the works of mercy. It comes with the decision to change what is unholy in us. To receive God’s full gift and graces in the sacraments, we must be willing to be transformed by God and leave sin behind as many times as it requires. We must continually renounce the world and materialism to do this.
When we do not prepare or make efforts to cultivate our faith, we miss out on the importance of salvation God offers us. Our salvation was bought by His Most Sacred Body and Blood. First, we experience and receive this through the sacraments then, it must bear fruit in our vocation and mission. If we don’t recognize this, our life enters a drought because of ignoring the call of God. His call is the greatest thing that could ever happen in our life as is a wedding - the greatest feast in one’s life. By God’s grace, may we choose God amidst the fleeting pleasures that the world offers. May we be the ones who are called and also chosen by God because we respond with our whole hearts and will to abide by the plans of the Lord for us.
Amen. +
Marga de Jesus | OLA Social Communications
