YOU DID NOT CHOOSE ME, I CHOSE YOU…

Acts 15:22-31 
22 Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren,23 with the following letter: “The brethren, both the apostles and the elders, to the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greeting.
24 Since we have heard that some persons from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions,25 it has seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,26 men who have risked their lives for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ.
27 We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth.28 For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things:29 that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is strangled and from unchastity. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.”30 So when they were sent off, they went down to Antioch; and having gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter.31 And when they read it, they rejoiced at the exhortation.

John 15:12-17 

12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.13 Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.14 You are my friends if you do what I command you.15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.
16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide; so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.17 This I command you, to love one another.

MEDITATION 

THE FIRST READING: Following Peter’s address that once and for all settled the matter that; circumcision is no longer a requirement, Gentiles were ordered to cease the offering of animal sacrifices to idols, and the community must refrain from partaking in promiscuous relationships. The Council leadership instructed Barnabas, Paul and some other men to return to Antioch and deliver the outcome of the council meeting, which the local committee received with joy and jubilation. 

THE GOSPEL READING: Christ makes the salient point that His friendship with the apostles hinge upon their love or “ahavah,”a Hebrew word that mean “to give” or sacrifice oneself, willing the good of another without expecting anything in return even unto death, because He has revealed to them all that the Father gave Him. Christ underscore His request by promising that the Father shall give them whatever they ask, if they abide and remain true to Him.

Christ demand our faithfulness, obedience and our steadfast love, irrespective dark cloudy days, misfortune and trails that may come our way, wherefore we shouldn’t demand Christ’s intervention or nod on the basis that we chose Him. You see, we cannot make secular or pagan demands from Christ that are at odds with His teachings as taught by the Magisterium! To use Christ’s words, [we] did not choose Him, He chose us, implying that the Spirit always makes the first move calling us to submit to Him, for never shall He submit to us wherefore we must wake up from our ill-advised slumber and respond with love and obedience to Him.

LET US PRAY:Psalms 57:8-10 

8 Awake, my soul! Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn!9 I will give thanks to thee, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to thee among the nations.10 For thy steadfast love is great to the heavens, thy faithfulness to the clouds.

Commentary. Henry R SYLVESTER Note: The daily scripture readings are taken from the Roman Missal which the Catholic Church use in the daily Celebration of the Holy Eucharist throughout the world.Some weekly readings may differ because of the celebration of local feast days