Why God has Chosen us?

Gospel Thoughts

*Easter Season : 6th Week - Sunday*

*GOSPEL -  Jn 15:9-17*

*First Reading - Acts 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48*

*Second Reading - 1 Jn 4:7-10*

*Why God has Chosen us?*

*It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you*

*1) Jesus has Chosen us*

Why we are followers of Jesus Today? 

Why we are Christians today? 

Why do we bear witness to Jesus in the  world today?

To all these above questions and to many more other questions, the answer is *Jesus has chosen us for these things*

In a way we must be proud that me and you are chosen by the Lord, for these things 

How fortunate we are to be chosen by Jesus to bear witness to the entire world

*2) The purpose of our Choice by Jesus*

We have been chosen by Jesus for the following things. These are specially mentioned in today's Gospel

*A) To Love*

First of all we have been chosen by Jesus to Love God and the neighbour

To love as God has loved us. So this love is qualified by God's love and not any other form of Love 

Since God is Love, we are chosen to only to love and not for anything else 

*B)To remain in Love*

Jesus makes it very clear that we have been chosen to remain in Love. 

In order to love God and neigbhour we need to remain in love 

It is not an easy task to remain in God's love, since we have many weaknesses

Unless we say goodbye to our sinful life and worldly way of life, we can't remain in love 

To remain in love we need to live a good, moral and upright life, which demands a lot 

So we have been chosen to fight against these evils things and to remain in God's love 

*C)To become Friends*

This is another aspect of our choice by Jesus 

To become genuine friends of Jesus 

Jesus says *I have called you friends*

Friendship is a special relationship which helps a person grow spiritually and to achieve his/her goal 

We know the importance of friendship and the commitment which is needed for the same 

Friendship always helps the mutual enrichment and it sustains relationship even in the worst crisis

So we are chosen to have such kind of Friendship

*D) We have been chosen for greater sacrifice*

Jesus says *No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one's friends*

This is the foundation of Christian life and spirituality

Martyrdom is at the centre of Christian life 

Laying down ones life not only applies to the ultimate sacrifice of life through the blood, but also through our daily activities

A woman is spending her whole life for her husband and to the children is equal to laying  down her life for the family 

A man working all through the life and the children taking care of the family is laying down their life for the family 

A religious person leaving everything, and serving the Lord is equal to laying down his/her life for the spread of the kingdom of God. 

Like wise there are many examples where one can lay down his/her life for another 

*E) We have been chosen to remain faithful to the commandments of the Lord*

God has given 10 commandments and they are very important for a Christian to live his/her life 

These 10 commandments are put together and has given us the commandment of Love 

So we have been chosen to remain faithful to the divine love and to share the same love, which is expressed by God on the Cross

*F) We have been chosen to bear fruit*

Jesus says I have chosen *you to go and bear fruit that will remain*

It not ordinary fruit which vanishes within no time. But it is a fruit that will remain for ever. It can be seen in the following things 

Fruit through humility

Fruit through justice and truth 

Fruit through forgiveness, generosity, sacrifice, sharing, service,

Fruit through the practice of all kingdom values 

These will bear everlasting fruit. To which we have been chosen 

*3) Am I ready to Cooper for this choice*

There is no doubt that we have been chosen by the Lord for a great and lasting mission 

So we have one choice, either to cooperate with the choice of the Lord or to quit from the choice of the Lord 

So what is my choice? 

Does my life and the values of my life show that I cooperate with the choice of the Lord?

What more can I do to make this choice more meaningful and to bear much fruit?

*Think about it*

*God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones*

*Fr Maxim Dsouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*