Homily for Friday, Week 2 of Ordinary Time

Homily for Friday
Week 2 of Ordinary Time

Jan. 19, 2024
Mark 3: 13-19
1 Sam 24: 3-21
Provincial House, New Rochelle

Choosing up Sides (EP.10) - Revolution 2.0 (revolution2-0.org)

When we were a lot younger, many of us began a ball game—baseball, football, or basketball—by choosing sides.  We might have used some ritual to determine who got 1st pick.  We chose those teammates who—we hoped—would give us the best chance of winning the game.

Today’s readings feature choices:  God’s choices to win salvation for Israel from her enemies, and the new Israel to win souls.  In the OT reading, God’s 2 choices to be king of Israel contend with each other.  In the Gospel, Jesus “summoned those whom he wanted and … he appointed Twelve” (3:13).

Choosing the Twelve (James Tissot)

God chose Saul to be king, and when Saul wasn’t faithful to the role given him, God replaced him with David:  “On a champion I’ve placed a crown; over the people I’ve set a youth” (Ps 89:20).  Altho he, too, sinned more than once, in the long run he proved faithful and is revered as a paragon of kingship.

Jesus had gathered an unknown number of disciples.  Upon a mountain—in other words, in a place where he communed with God and could act as a revealer of God’s will—he selected and appointed his apostles.  The choice is God’s, acting in Jesus.  Why them and not someone else?  Only God knows, just as only God knew why he chose Saul, and later David.

Jesus chose the 12 with a purpose:  to “be with him” and to be “sent forth to preach and … drive out demons” (3:14-15).  Their 1st requirement is to be with him, to be in his company, to listen to him, to learn from him.  It sounds like what we hear over and over regarding our religious consecration.  Only then will the 12 be qualified to go forth as apostles.

The choice in both the OT and the Gospel was God’s.  The response, however, had to be that of the men chosen.  Saul rebelled against God’s command and failed as king.  David was true.  Jesus “appointed 12,” and to some extent they all failed him.  If the beloved disciple who stood by Jesus on Calvary and supported Mary was John the son of Zebedee, as generally supposed, even he failed Jesus at least twice—wanting to call down fire on the Samaritan village that wouldn’t receive Jesus on his journey toward Jerusalem (Luke 9:53-54), and seeking a high place in Jesus’ kingdom (Mark 10:35-40).  Judas, of course, failed terribly, perhaps irredeemably (altho we can’t know that in this life).

Having been chosen, then, Israel’s kings and Jesus’ 12 also had to choose:  to be faithful or not.  So it is with all whom Jesus has called to discipleship.  Our faithful response may begin, “Here I am Lord” (Is 6:8).  Thru all Christian disciples, may God ever “send his mercy and his faithfulness” (Ps 57:4).When we were a lot younger, many of us began a ball game—baseball, football, or basketball—by choosing sides.  We might have used some ritual to determine who got 1st pick.  We chose those teammates who—we hoped—would give us the best chance of winning the game.

Today’s readings feature choices:  God’s choices to win salvation for Israel from her enemies, and the new Israel to win souls.  In the OT reading, God’s 2 choices to be king of Israel contend with each other.  In the Gospel, Jesus “summoned those whom he wanted and … he appointed Twelve” (3:13).

God chose Saul to be king, and when Saul wasn’t faithful to the role given him, God replaced him with David:  “On a champion I’ve placed a crown; over the people I’ve set a youth” (Ps 89:20).  Altho he, too, sinned more than once, in the long run he proved faithful and is revered as a paragon of kingship.

Jesus had gathered an unknown number of disciples.  Upon a mountain—in other words, in a place where he communed with God and could act as a revealer of God’s will—he selected and appointed his apostles.  The choice is God’s, acting in Jesus.  Why them and not someone else?  Only God knows, just as only God knew why he chose Saul, and later David.

Jesus chose the 12 with a purpose:  to “be with him” and to be “sent forth to preach and … drive out demons” (3:14-15).  Their 1st requirement is to be with him, to be in his company, to listen to him, to learn from him.  It sounds like what we hear over and over regarding our religious consecration.  Only then will the 12 be qualified to go forth as apostles.

The choice in both the OT and the Gospel was God’s.  The response, however, had to be that of the men chosen.  Saul rebelled against God’s command and failed as king.  David was true.  Jesus “appointed 12,” and to some extent they all failed him.  If the beloved disciple who stood by Jesus on Calvary and supported Mary was John the son of Zebedee, as generally supposed, even he failed Jesus at least twice—wanting to call down fire on the Samaritan village that wouldn’t receive Jesus on his journey toward Jerusalem (Luke 9:53-54), and seeking a high place in Jesus’ kingdom (Mark 10:35-40).  Judas, of course, failed terribly, perhaps irredeemably (altho we can’t know that in this life).

Having been chosen, then, Israel’s kings and Jesus’ 12 also had to choose:  to be faithful or not.  So it is with all whom Jesus has called to discipleship.  Our faithful response may begin, “Here I am Lord” (Is 6:8).  Thru all Christian disciples, may God ever “send his mercy and his faithfulness” (Ps 57:4).