Sixth Sunday of Easter
My senior year in college, I went on a silent retreat hosted by The Sisters of Life with a few of my housemates. Since learning about this religious order, I’ve admired their work and mission that stems from the belief that every person, and thus every life, is good, loved, unique and unrepeatable. They’re also just so beautiful, full of life and joy and their love of their work and faith truly radiates! The retreat was at their Mother House in upstate New York. The drive was beautiful and I was really looking forward to a weekend away with my friends and a chance for some alone time with God. I struggled with the whole “silent” part of the retreat and couldn’t help making a couple comments to each of my friends throughout the weekend, but overall, it was a great experience.
During one of the sessions, a Sister told us a story of an encounter she had with a little girl while walking through a public park in The Bronx. The little girl ran up to her and started pulling at her habit. When the sister looked down, the girl asked, “Why do you wear that?” pointing to her veil. Instead of going into vows, virtues and tradition, the sister simply said, “Well, I’m married to Jesus!” The little girl threw her arms on her hips and with disbelief and some sass, said, “He chose YOU?!” The sister replied, “Yeah, I was surprised too!”
That story came to mind when reading this week’s Gospel. Jesus is talking to his disciples and at the end tells them: “It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you.” John 15:16
Sometimes doing what God is asking us to do is scary. Maybe we’re being called to think about religious life, to take on a new job or to go away to do mission work after high school or college. Maybe God is tugging at our heart to befriend someone new at school, to attend a youth ministry event our parents told us about or join our Parish on a week-long mission trip to do good for those in need. Sometimes, whatever God is putting in our hearts isn’t part of our “plan” or we don’t think we’re qualified to do it.
I reflect on this passage often and it gives me so much peace when I take my decisions to prayer. Through prayer, I know that He chose me for a specific mission. I know that because I choose to listen, He will not let me fail but will give me the graces to succeed and have my back whenever I call to Him. This doesn’t mean there aren’t challenges along the way, but I know that because my decisions are centered around God, that good will come from them.
Of course, there are times I turn to God, throw my hands on my hips and with all the attitude ask, “You chose ME to do this?”. When this happens, I see Jesus shaking his head and smiling saying “Don’t be so surprised; you’ve got this!”
