Called and Sent

June 24: Birthday of John the Baptizer

Isaiah 49:1-6; Psalm 139:1-3, 13-14, 14-15; Acts 13:22-26; Luke 1:57-66, 80

instead of Tuesday of Week 12 of Ordinary Time, Year A-II:

2Kings 19:9-11, 14-21, 31-36; Psalm 48:2-3, 3-4, 10-11; Matthew 7:6, 12-14

A thought for those who want to reveal the risen Jesus in their lifestyle.

“The Lord called me from birth.” Isaiah 49:1

Each of us was called, consecrated, anointed and empowered by God in Baptism to be a prophet. We are all sent to announce the Good News, to “prepare the way of the Lord.”

We received what is called the “messianic anointing” when the minister of Baptism anointed us with chrism, saying, “As Christ [Greek for the Hebrew “masiah,” or “anointed”] was anointed Priest, Prophet and King, so live as a member of his body.” Those words redirected our life.

Now we share in Christ’s mission as Prophet, in his ministry as Priest, and in his responsibility as King to “make all things new” by establishing the reign of God over every area and activity of human life (Revelation 21:5).

The first duty in our “job description” is to bear witness through a lifestyle that “raises irresistible questions” that cannot be answered without the Gospel (Pope Paul VI, Evangelization in the Modern World, 21). Before we say, do, buy, sell, use or seek anything, we ask, “How does this bear witness to the values of Christ?” That is our mission as “prophets.”

Jesus sent us his Spirit “as the first fruits of his life for those who believe in him, so that we might live no longer for ourselves, but to bring his work to perfection in the world and sanctify creation to the full” (see Eucharistic Prayer IV).

PRAY: “Lord, make me generous.”

PRACTICE: Seek guidance from the Spirit.