homily notes: 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time

We often call the people of Israel the "Chosen People."


They were chosen, by God, out of all the people in the world, to begin His plan of salvation. They weren't the strongest nation. They weren't in a particularly great spot in the world. And they weren't perfect when it came to keeping the covenant they had made with the Lord.


But God chose them. Through the Israelites, God revealed Himself and eventually sent us His Son.


That is how God usually works. He calls us to carry out his works when we're not ready. When we're not strong or wise or holy. 


Just look at the story of the prophet Amos in the first reading. At the time the people of Israel were divided into two kingdoms: Judah, in the south around Jerusalem, and Israel in the north. Amos was from the south but God called him to go and prophesy in the north where they had set up their own sanctuary. You see, because the Temple was in the southern kingdom of Judah, the northerners weren't allowed to go worship there, so they set up shrines in their kingdom and this is where Amos is preaching.
Amaziah, the priest at this shrine in Bethel, confronts Amos. He tells him to go back to Judah and prophesy there. They didn't want to hear his words - which were the words of the Lord, condemining them for worshipping idols.


But Amos replies that he isn't a prophet and he wasn't a student of some other prophet - he was just a shepherd and kind of a gardener. He isn't prophesying because that's what he's been trained to do or because, as a southerner, he is against the northern kingdom. He's prophesying because God called him to do it. God called and he answered, ready or not.


We see the same sort of thing in the Gospel today. Jesus is giving his apostles their first solo assignment. He's sending them out on their own for the first time, and what does he call them to do? Basically, to be just like Jesus: He tells them to take nothing for the journey, but to rely on the generosity of those who listen to them (just like Jesus) and gives them his authority to preach repentance, to heal the sick, and to cast out demons.


Now, these guys weren't especially trained to be apostles. They were just normal guys from normal walks of life - fishermen, a tax collector, just average men of their time who were being called by Jesus to do extraordinary things. He chose them and called them, and they answered. Now they were being sent, ready or not.


I wonder if this is what our new bishop-elect, Msgr. Monforton, felt a little of when he got that phone call a few weeks ago saying that the Pope had chosen him to be the bishop of the Diocese of Steubenville. How do you get ready for that? Are you ever really ready?


Well, brothers and sisters, God calls all of us. Our lives are not random. They are not just accidental. We live within God's plan and he places us where we are so that we can fulfill His purpose, His mission in the world.


Part of that is seeking our vocation in life. That means discerning where God wants me. Did God make me to share my life in the sacramental bond of marriage? To be a husband or wife, a father or mother?
It could also be that God made me, He chose me to serve Him as a priest, a brother, or a sister. Those are all very real possibilities.


But whether you are living your vocation in a family or, in my case the priesthood; or if you still don't know what God wants for your life, we all have a mission. A mission to show God's love to the world.


For a married couple that means letting your love, your relationship, say to the world, "We love each other because we know the love of God." By your just being together, you can change the world. You can show the world the love of God - love that is giving, love that is selfless and love that is sacrificial.


If you're single right now, you have a unique opportunity to be of loving service to God's people. You have a freedom to give of your time to show the love of God.


We all live different lives, but our calling to love and holiness is the same. We have to nurture our relationship with God and his Church through prayer and service. We have to listen for God's voice, often speaking to us through other people.


He has a plan. He has chosen us for great things. It is up to us to respond.