Life as a citizen and member of the household means responsibilities. To what extent are we living up to the privilege conferred upon us? That is a worthy topic for meditation. In an era when rights mean so much, what about the duties that are conferred upon us? Are our actions reflecting favorably upon the commitments of our household?
We need assurance here, too. The gospel for today names the disciples whom Jesus had chosen, warts and all. Oddly enough, this passage refers to “Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.” But didn’t everyone else desert Jesus when it counted? Even
Peter, the Rock, denied Jesus when confronted, leaving him in fear. It strikes me that the moniker of traitor could have applied to all of the members of this motley crew of disciples at points in their lives. But sadly, only Judas gave up on following our Lord by taking his own life. That is an act of despair, not an act of hope. May mercy be upon him, too. We need the gift of faith to follow through when times get tough. Can we find the hope and faith we
need to continue what feels like sojourning as an alien? Let us ask our predecessors to pray for us, so that our Lord may keep us and to sustain us, taking comfort in the many signs that are left for us in this world, which bring to mind the truth that we are called into something greater, deeper, broader, wider, richer, and more important than any competing good. Thanks be to God.
