“Allowing ourselves to be in the Hands of The Great Artist, so that He can ornament our life with His Golden Graces!”
(Based on Heb 8:6-13 and Mk 3:13-19 – Friday of the 2nd Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1)
A beautiful story is told about a village that was known for it fragile, expensive porcelain – especially it’s urns (= tall, rounded vases).
It is said that when each ern was finished, there would be one last step…
… the artist would deliberately break the urn
… and put it back
But there was something special in this putting back…
… The artist would put it back using gold filigree (= delicate ornamental work).
Thus, the urn – which would have been else ordinary – was transformed to a precious and priceless work of art!
Yes… What was considered as finished, wasn’t…
… until it was broken!
Is there brokenness in your life today?
Do you feel you are just “ordinary?”
Then allow yourself to be in the Hands of The Great Artist…
… And He will ornament your life with His Golden Graces!
What seems “ordinary” becomes special in the presence of the Lord!
Yes, God’s ways are truly far different from the way of human beings!
The Gospel of the Day is a testimony to this beautiful fact, when Jesus makes a choice of His disciples.
“Jesus went up to the mountain, and called to Him those whom He desired, and they came to Him” (Mk 3:13)
Another translation would read, “…and summoned to Him those whom He wanted…”
The disciples were called because Jesus desired them!
The disciples were summoned because Jesus wanted them!
This style of choice is indeed strange and queer, isn’t it?
Here is Project Kingdom at hand…
… and Jesus chooses not the best, but the ordinary!
Jesus is out to usher in a Kingdom of healing and many divine works…
But Jesus chooses some mundane fishermen for this task!
Jesus is out to usher in a Kingdom of love and detachment…
But Jesus chooses some doubtful personalities like tax collectors and lover of money!
Jesus is out to usher in a Kingdom of Divine love and peace…
But Jesus chooses some nationalists and zealots!
Yes, God’s ways are truly far different from the way of human beings!
God’s style is exceedingly distinct from the style of human beings!
God makes His choice on the Single Principle of Love!
God makes His choice on the Sole Rule of Love!
You and Me – as Christians – followers of Christ – are also called and chosen!
What was the reason for it?
What was the criteria for God choosing us?
Nothing exceptional in us…
Nothing spectacular in us…
But simply and purely, His exceptional and spectacular love has chosen us!
He chose us simply because He wanted to choose us!
He selected us simply because He wanted to select us!
Sounds crazy? Sounds weird?
Well… God’s love and choices are indeed crazy and weird!
But they are also full of wisdom and Divine Providence!
Yes, we are called into existence in love, by the One who loves us deeply!
This sole factor can and should be the impelling and encouraging force in our lives!
In moments, when we feel that we are unwanted and unloved…
Know and realise, that God has chosen us…in love!
In moments when we feel unequipped and disarmed to undertake some duties and tasks…
Know and realise, that God has chosen us…in love!
In moments, when we are broken into despair and rejected into helplessness and loneliness…
Know and realise, that God has chosen us…in love!
In moments, when meaning to life is found missing and the future looks too hazy and clouded…
Know and realise, that God has chosen us…in love!
It may be easy for me to write reflections on God’s love…
It may be not too hard a task for me to preach on God’s love…
But deep within… can we know and experience, for sure.. that God’s Love encompasses us!
He simply loves us!
He simply loves to lavish His affections on us!
There can be no greater personal revelation for me than to know and experience that I am loved and chosen by God!
There can be no greater personal satisfaction and happiness for me, than to live and be passionate about this deep, personal and intimate love and choice of God!
Today, let us renew our commitment and zeal to this Love of the Lord!
He is calling us once again… in love..
… to be His disciples
… to be close to Him
… to be part of His Project Kingdom
… to be partakers of His mission in this world
There will be moments when we feel…
… broken and wounded
… ordinary and neglected
… not useful and rejected
But like the urn – in the hand of the artist…
… let’s realise that we would put back using gold filigree!
Ordinary as we are…
… we can be transformed to being precious and priceless!
Yes… What is considered as finished, isn’t…
… until it is broken!
Let us allow yourselves to be in the Hands of The Great Artist…
… and He will ornament our life with His Golden Graces!
God Bless! Live Jesus!
Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
By natural reason man can know God with certainty, on the basis of his works.
But there is another order of knowledge, which man cannot possibly arrive at by his own powers: the order of Divine Revelation.
Through an utterly free decision, God has revealed Himself and given Himself to man.
This he does by revealing the mystery, His plan of loving goodness…
…. formed from all eternity in Christ, for the benefit of all men.
Reflection Capsules 