“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.” (Jn 15:16)

Each time I’ve heard this passage over my lifetime, I assumed it referred uniquely to the disciples, but in reality, Jesus is speaking to each one of us. It was not you who chose me, Barbara, but I chose you to follow me and bear great fruit. I invite you, right now, before reading any further, to stop and repeat that sentence and replace my name with yours. Now, it’s personal and real. Christ chose me. Christ chose you. It was not a general anonymous call to anyone with nothing better to do. It was deliberate. I chose you.

We’ve all had the experience with neighborhood kids, classmates, or coworkers as we waited to be chosen for a team. Memories flooded back as I anxiously waited to have my name called. Everyone else seemed more valuable, famous, or talented than I. My name was never the first one called nor the top ten. I became more worthless and small with every passing name. It was a brutal lesson, and I know we all have similar stories. How edifying to hear today in the Gospel that Jesus Christ himself, the King of the Universe, has called and chosen me. It isn’t because I am exceptionally gifted or rise above humanity in knowledge, beauty, or talent; that’s the kicker because I wasn’t chosen for those reasons.

“Do not judge from his appearance or from his lofty stature, because I have rejected him. God does not see as a mortal, who sees the appearance. The LORD looks into the heart.” (1 Sam 7). 

Amen, and thank God!

Does that mean they or we are the leftovers, second string, or the bottom of the barrel? No! Consider what those apostles did with their call. You and I are here over two thousand years later because they answered and took seriously the fact that they were called, chosen, and to the best of their abilities, followed Him. They said yes.

What say you, pilgrim? 

You and I live in this moment in time, chosen by name for a purpose and mission in God’s plan. We did not exist in 1929, 1852, or even 206. This is our time. This is when we shine.

Instead of whining and shaking my head at the state of the nation, our youth, and the world, I must instead ask God, what are my marching orders. When St. Joan of Arc was a mere teen on the battlefield, she was asked if she was afraid and replied, “I am not afraid because God is with me, and I was born to do this.” Each of us should believe the same. God is with me; and I was born to do His Will in this place and time. It is not me acting on my own, but God acting through me.

Sometimes, we are nostalgic, wishing for days when things appeared more effortless. When we were children, we didn’t have many worries, and I was happy with my gully, and graham cracker.  

God has always known what task he would ask of me, the suffering and the mission. It is the same for you. We will never clearly know or grasp what plays out through our yes to God. It is rare, to recognize the tree that may have come from seeds we planted decades ago, or the sweet wine that came from the press of the grape. God knows, however, and that is what matters.

Until we breathe our last breath, we are here to cooperate with His grace, no matter our state. 

A dear friend has been the primary caregiver for her father-in-law, who is nearing the end of his Alzheimer’s journey. He recognizes no one and has regressed tremendously. Every moment is a newly fought challenge for him and his family. She told me that he has recently begun to make the sign of the Cross repeatedly. During his life, he was a faithful Catholic until the disease, bit by bit, took away everything. But now, as he nears the end of his earthly life, that familiar sign of Christ’s victory over sin and death, he displays for all reminding them that death has no power over the Cross. 

Our daily challenges, and the chaos constantly reeling on the news, do not get the last word. 

Evil does not win. Remember that well, Christian soldier. 

We are here on purpose, for a purpose.

 “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom 8:38-39)

Let us dare to bear fruit and joyfully glorify the Father in the process.