Hos. 10:1-3,7-8,12, Psalm 105:2-7, Mt. 10:1-7

Todays’ readings are about being chosen, and I would say, the challenge of being chosen.

Hosea speaks of the heartbreak of Israel going from being faithful to God and then being defiant. Matthew’s gospel tells of those men chosen to be the Apostles and given a big job to do as a result. Even here with Jesus doing the choosing there is literally a Judas in the group. Choosing and being chosen doesn’t always yield the best results.

My observation is simply these readings are about each of us. As Christians we believe we are all individually chosen by God. We are all asked to have faith. In this case that means to accept that we are loved and cared for.

 We know that like the Apostles, we don’t always live up to the gifts or the tasks God has given us. However, it is our time and we should not be dissuaded from following the advice of today’s Psalm:

“Look to the LORD in his strength, seek to serve him constantly.
Recall the wondrous deeds that he has wrought, his portents, and the judgments he has uttered.”

Along with the message Jesus gave to his Apostles, “The Kingdom of heaven is at hand” perhaps we can live that heavenly reality of being chosen, a beloved one of God.