Romans 12: 5-16ab (Tuesday, November 6, 2007)

In today’s reading, we see Paul’s theology of the Church and how members of the Church should live. In 1 Corinthians 12:12-26 he uses the analogy of the human body to explain the body of Christ. We all are one body in Christ. Anyone who is baptized in Christ is baptized into his body. It doesn’t matter whether you are black, white, Asian, African, Indian, etc. Your baptism gives you a new identity, a new passport – you are now a citizen of God’s body. Every citizen of Christ’s body has received a gift and this gift is to be used in building God’s kingdom here on earth. It is important that you know what gift you have and to appreciate the gift. It is only when you that, that you are able to use that gift to build God’s kingdom on earth. No one gift is more superior to another for you to be jealous of another person’s gift; and the gift is not for your own glory for you to want to have another person’s gift. You must accept joyfully whatever gift God has given to you and use it to build up God’s kingdom. When every one of us does this, then we are making God’s kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus Christ, help us to know and appreciate the gifts that you have given to us. Holy Spirit of the living God, come to our assistance.

John 22: 1-14 (Thursday, August 23, 2007)

Just because you have been baptized in the Christian church is not a guarantee that you would be saved. In the gospel of today, Jesus tells us that “many are called, few are chosen.” By virtue of our baptism, all Christians are called to be members of the family of Christ. In baptism, we are called to be priests, prophet and king like Jesus. St. Paul has an election theology which reflects those called to the Christian Church. One thing is to be called, and another thing is to do what you are called to do. If you fail to do what you are called to do, then you will not be among the chosen. We are called to be Christians through our baptism, but we are only chosen if we truly become christ-like, living the radical vocation of Christian love.

Prayer:
Jesus Christ, we are members of your Christian family. We recognize that we have been specially called to this vocation. Help us to live out radically our Christian vocation, so that we will be counted among your chosen ones.