Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

Sunday Mass Readings

I came to know Greg and Lucy Kramer about six years ago. I met them along with their two beautiful children Christi Ann and Andrew who are now 10. From the time I have known Greg I have always seen him in his wheelchair. Lucy plays the flute at the Sunday evening ‘Rock with Jesus’ mass and her children help Linda set up for mass. Greg works for the Access Centre for Independent living, and usually sits at the back of church when the band practices and actively participates in the celebration. Of course it was always tempting to ask them about Greg but I did not want to be rude either. I assumed that some illness had struck him early on during their married life. It was when I was invited to dinner couple of years back that I came to know the real story. Greg was involved in a swimming accident when he was merely fifteen. When they fell in love with each other, he was already in the wheel chair. I have never asked Lucy why she married a man who was so severely restricted in so many ways. Of all the choices she could have made, why Greg? I have to admit that I have rarely met anyone as courageous as Greg and as unpresumptuous as Lucy. Yet what they have achieved together has remained for me an inspiring and true act of love, commitment and faith. For both of them, there must be a reason for their choice, there must be a price to be paid each day for their choice, and there must be a purpose that comes from their choice. Today’s readings revolve around three major themes: God’s choice, the price for the choice, the purpose of the choice. Thus in the first reading, we hear of God’s choice of Israel as God’s own people. The choice defied logic and reason. If God wanted glory and power then he should have chosen the Egyptians. Compared to Egyptian culture, art, intellect and power, the Israelites were almost non-existent. But God chooses them. God’s choice came with all its implications. On the part of the Israelites it demanded fidelity to the Covenant. On God’s part it meant taking the risk of unconditionally loving an imperfect partner. The Israelites never were faithful and history tells us of the price they paid. Because they swore to God and then failed to be faithful to the Covenant they brought a curse of destruction upon themselves. Israel was destroyed in 722 BC and Judah was destroyed in 587 BC.

But once again, God, in fidelity to his Covenant takes upon himself to save his people. In the second reading, we are told that Christ died for us while we were still sinners. It is one thing to realize that Christ paid the price for my salvation, but it is quite another that God chose a people knowing that he would have to pay the price. That is pure love. And even now, as far as you and I are concerned, there is no guarantee for any love being returned. God loves simply because God is God. The gospel reading takes us a step beyond. Jesus chooses some people to be extensions of the love and life of God. These apostles are called by name. None of the chosen twelve were perfect. But God’s love and their choice so gripped them that they changed the history of the world.

Three realizations that can change my life:

1. God has cared to choose me! I believe God is saying this to each one of us today:
“I bore you up on eagle wings and brought you here to myself. Therefore, if you hearken to my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my special possession… (Ex 19:4). To think of the trouble that people take to be on reality TV shows only to be rejected and sometimes even insulted. And yet, the greatest reality is of a loving God choosing imperfect people like you and me. Of all the priests that are there I must be the most unworthy and yet God’s hand continues to be with me. That is the most humbling yet empowering experience for me. That God has chosen each of you to be his own and that he chooses each of us to be his presence in the world and to let that realization sink into the depths of our hearts can be the most life changing experience.

2. God’s choice came at a price! The realization that God has chosen me becomes even more dear and personal when I let the full realization of Christ’s death sink in. Christ died so that God can choose me. Christ took upon himself the effects of my sin so that I can be God’s possession. That is what the second readings means when it says, “Christ, while we were still helpless, yet died at the appointed time for the ungodly. Indeed, only with difficulty does one die for a just person,though perhaps for a good person
one might even find courage to die. But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us” (Rom 5: 6-8).

Let this realization sink in.

3. God’s choice and call is a purpose-filled call. Today’s gospel reading is important in this regard. Jesus, at the sight of the crowds, is moved with compassion. The God who made us his own and Christ who died for us calls each of us also to be moved with compassion. What is that one thing that we are passionate about? Hunger and starvation, immigrants, race relations, helping the poor, doing ministry in the Church, working at hospice, or serving at the soup kitchen? Our call is part for our own sake and part for other’s sake. As the gospel reading says to us, “Make this proclamation: ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’
Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give” (Mt 10: 7-8).

Let the realization of our calling sink in and let it change our lives.


As we continue to celebrate this Eucharist, let us be open to the call of Jesus as he calls each of us by name. And then strengthened by his power let us go forth in his name. Amen

- Fr. Satish Joseph