‘Why Did You Call Me?’

Friday, January 19, 2024

1 Sm 24:3-21; Mk 3:13-19

In today’s Gospel, we read about Jesus naming the twelve apostles. 

If we look at the band of apostles with their ‘future’ mistakes in mind (Peter denying Jesus, Thomas doubting Jesus, and Judas betraying Jesus), we wonder why and how Jesus settled for these ‘weak’ twelve as apostles rather than the rest who followed him. 

If we have questions about Jesus’ choice of the twelve, there is an anecdote that aligns with our thinking. It is insightful, though the imagination is quite amusing. 

Resumes of Apostles

To: Jesus, Son of Joseph
Woodcrafter’s Carpenter Shop
Nazareth 25922

From: Jordan Management Consultants

Dear Sir:

Thank you for submitting the resumes of the twelve men you have picked for managerial positions in your new organization. All of them have now taken our battery of tests; and we have not only run the results through our computer, but also arranged personal interviews for each of them with our psychologist and vocational aptitude consultant.

The profiles of all tests are included, and you will want to study each of them carefully.

As part of our service, we make some general comments for your guidance, much as an auditor will include some general statements. This is given as a result of staff consultation, and comes without any additional fee.

It is the staff opinion that most of your nominees are lacking in background, education and vocational aptitude for the type of enterprise you are undertaking. They do not have the team concept. We would recommend that you continue your search for persons of experience in managerial ability and proven capability.

Simon Peter is emotionally unstable and given to fits of temper. Andrew has absolutely no qualities of leadership. The two brothers, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, place personal interest above company loyalty. Thomas demonstrates a questioning attitude that would tend to undermine morale. We feel that it is our duty to tell you that Matthew had been blacklisted by the Greater Jerusalem Better Business Bureau; James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus definitely have radical leanings, and they both registered a high score on the manic-depressive scale.

One of the candidates, however, shows great potential. He is a man of ability and resourcefulness, meets people well, has a keen business mind, and has contacts in high places. He is highly motivated, ambitious, and responsible. We recommend Judas Iscariot as your controller and right-hand man. All of the other profiles are self-explanatory.

We wish you every success in your new venture.

Sincerely,

Jordan Management Consultants 

[Eating Problems for Breakfast by Tim Hansel, Word Publishing, 1988, pp. 194-195, Available Online: bible.org]

A couple of days ago, we read the call narrative of David. The Lord tells Samuel when the prophet mistakes Eliab to be God’s chosen one, ‘Do not judge from his appearance or from his lofty stature, because I have rejected him. Not as man sees does God see, because he sees the appearance but the Lord looks into the heart.’

God’s choice of us is not arbitrary but purposeful because only God can look into our hearts. 

The vocation we have received is thus precious because we are called to be ‘with Him’ and to be ‘sent forth’ for Him.

Let us pray that we may fulfill the purpose of our vocation, just as all the apostles did!

Fr. Dhinakaran Savariyar