Chosen

 

The Spiritual Waiting Room

Chosen

Little     Flock

Faith     Courage     Vigilant

Where Your Treasure Is

Heart

(photo and poem by Kathy McNamara)

Scriptures:   Psalm 33:12b

The people are blessed whom God has chosen to be God's own.

Hebrews 11:8

Abraham responded in faith when God called him to journey to a place where he was to gain his inheritance; he responded, not aware of his destination.

Luke 12:32 to 34

Jesus told His disciples: 

"Do not fear any more, little flock, for your Father will give you the kingdom. 

Sell all that you have.

Give to the poor.

In so doing you will provide a wealth that will never be lost.

Your treasure will be in heaven.

No robber can steal it.

No moth will devour it.

For where your treasure is,

there also will your heart be."

Reflection

We all have choices to make every single day. We try to align our choices with what we believe, in faith, Jesus would want us to do.

Our choices flow from the realization that we see echoed in our reading from Psalm 33: we have been chosen by God. We are God's own.

An amazing thought to ponder: God actually chooses us! I can remember eagerly awaiting to find out which side I would be on when all of our friends from the neighborhood gathered to play baseball. 

When I was young and couldn't hit the ball too far and was a poor fielder, I was chosen last and put in right field. As I got older and showed more skill, I was chosen much earlier. When I was even older, I was the one doing the choosing!

No matter when I was chosen, I always felt good that someone actually wanted me. To imagine that God has chosen me is truly remarkable.

In the reading from Hebrews we have another example of being chosen---Abraham. He responds in faith and moves his family to another land because this is what God has called him to do. He has been chosen to be the father of a special people---the Chosen People. 

In the reading from Luke, Jesus is instructing His "little flock". Such a wonderful expression for the group that Jesus has chosen.

This little flock will have a treasure that no one can take away from them. It will never perish. It will never be destroyed. 

That is a treasure that we would all want! So many of us worry about our "treasures" being wiped out if the stock market takes a turn for the worse. The treasure that Jesus is speaking about is a different sort of treasure. 

It is the treasure that comes when we realize that we are Blessed by God because we have been chosen. It is a treasure of the heart. It is a treasure of Love. 

It is a treasure that lasts forever. 

1. How do you feel when you realize that you have been "chosen" by God?

2.  Do you ever feel that you are part of the "little flock" that Jesus has chosen?

3. What are some of your "treasures"?

4. What is your reaction to Kathy's photo?

(scripture adaptation, reflection, and questions by John J. McNamara)