21th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Cycle A, Year II)

Community Word:     The Lord rewards those who believe in Him as the Bread of Life.

Theme:      We believe in the Lord when we proclaim Jesus as the Son of the Living God and help build His Church.

Promise: “…upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.” (Mt 16:18b)

Reflection:
“But who do you say that I am?” (Mat 16:15).  If we were asked this same question by the Lord today, how would we reply?  Hind sight should give us 20:20 vision.  Our faith’s more than 2,000 years of history should give us the perfect vision to answer as Peter did, without any hesitation, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God,” (Mat 16:16).

How could a simple fisherman with no education, like Peter, came up with a reply that is full of wisdom and insight, well before he experienced Jesus’ death and glorious resurrection? Surely, he must have been inspired from above, as Jesus himself confirms: “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father,” (Mat 16:17).

This is the message of today’s gospel. God doesn’t call the qualified.  He qualifies the called. God does not choose leaders based on what they have to offer but on the inadequacies that could serve to deepen their faith and intensify their reliance on Him.  The qualifications people use in making choices have absolutely no bearing on His choice. “People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart,” (1 Samuel 16:7).

This gospel certainly changes the way we look at leaders who serve in our Community.  Despite their many imperfections, the Lord has chosen them to lead His flock, for reasons known only to Him, and probably for the same reasons He chose Peter to lead the entire Roman Catholic Church, knowing full well that Peter would soon deny Him three times. “…you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church,” (Mat 16:18).

So the next time you receive an assignment from the Community, before you quickly decline the offer because you feel you don’t have the skills or qualifications for the job, think again.  The next time you are asked to head a project, and before you beg off for whatever reason, read today’s gospel.  We are to humbly accept what role we are given despite our sense of unworthiness and doubts.  When He appoints us, the Lord secures our place in everything that we do.  “I will fix him like a peg in a sure spot, to be a place of honor for his family,” (Isaiah 22:23).   It is our duty therefore to humbly accept the calling, thereby proclaiming Jesus as the Son of God.  This is our theme for this week: We believe in the Lord when we proclaim Jesus as the Son of the Living God and help build His Church. 

Assignments of leadership received in Community may overwhelm us at the onset.  Our next emergence process will identify new BLD Community leaders to take on the various positions of leadership.  It is a good time in our faith journey for those who are called, to emulate Peter’s staunch faith. As qualified nominators in the emergence process, let us ask ourselves this question: could Peter, an unschooled and simple fisherman, have made it to the list of BLD nominees and be emerged as one of the new leaders in 2015?

The Lord is indeed full of surprises when He chooses people who may escape our attention, but whom he calls for His divine work.  Perhaps we would not even choose the kind of people the Lord selected as His twelve apostles. They were ordinary fishermen, tax collectors and even sinners, who were least likely candidates for any leadership role.  But these simple uneducated folk turned out to be the Lord’s instruments in spreading the gospel and building his church throughout the world.  They are likewise responsible for having written the several books of the bible that declare the truth of God’s word today, yesterday and forever.  Let us pause for a moment and quietly reflect on this.

Proclaiming Jesus as the Son of the living God is not easy.  It is a personal commitment, a way of life that defines who we are and how we relate to Jesus.  It is not a sporadic act that comes and goes but a belief that has to be lived on a day-to-day basis, 24-7.  But no matter how difficult it is to be a proclaimer of the Word, and builder of God’s kingdom and Church, it comes with a reward that is all worth it, “…upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it,” (Mt 16:18b).
This is our promise for the week.

Prayer:
Lord, it is so humbling for unworthy servants to be entrusted with various positions of responsibility in our community.  Like Peter, many of us are unlearned in Your ways and ignorant of Your laws.  But You chose us, imperfect men and women, to be instruments of Your divine work. You call the unqualified to display the magnificent power of the Holy Spirit in building Your Kingdom here on earth.  We cannot do this on our own, Lord, and we depend on You totally; on Your love and mercy in everything that we do.  We are in need of Your constant guidance everyday, for without You, we would be totally lost.  Give us the grace to remain earnest and enthusiastic in our determination follow You, as we proclaim You as the Son of the Living God. In Jesus mighty name we pray, Amen.

Reflection Question:
1.    Can you name your top 3 weaknesses or inadequacies in serving the Lord? How do you propose to overcome these shortcomings?
2.    What are your activities this coming week that would proclaim Jesus to be the Son of the Living God?

This Week’s Daily Mass Reading Guide:
August 24, 2014 (Sun)     Is 22:15,19-253/Ps 138:1-2,2-3,6,8/Rom 11:33-36/Mt 16:13-20
August 25, 2014 (Mon)    2Thes 1:1-5,11-12/Ps 96:1-2,2-3,4-5/Mt 23:13-22
August 26, 2014 (Tues)   2Thes 2:1-3,14-17/Ps 96:10,11-12,13/Mt 23:23-26
August 27, 2014 (Wed)    2Thes 3:6-10,16-18/Ps 128:1-2,4-5/Mt 23:27-32
August 28, 2014 (Thurs)  1Cor 1:1-9/Ps 145:2-3,4-5,6-7/Mt 24:42-51
August 29, 2014 (Fri)      Jer 1:17-19/Ps 71:1-2,3-4,5-6,15,17/Mk 6:17-29
August 30, 2014 (Sat)    1Cor 1:26-31/Ps 33:12-13,18-19,20-21/Mt 25:14-30

“Ignorance of the Bible is ignorance of Christ.  Read your Bible daily!”

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