Are You Chosen?

A profound question struck me as I listened to the Gospel message in Mass yesterday. The reading (John 6:60-69) recounted the reactions of the disciples after hearing Jesus tell them, “unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you,” and that only those who do this will be raised up and receive eternal life. It was a difficult, even crazy concept for those hearing it for the first time…“Many of Jesus’ disciples who were listening said, ‘this saying is hard; who can accept it?” I’m sure it can still seem hard for people to digest today. The story goes on to say, “as a result of this, many of his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him. Jesus then said to the Twelve, ‘Do you also want to leave?’ Simon Peter answered him, ‘Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life’.” But the words that really hit me out of this passage were these:  “Jesus knew from the beginning the ones who would not believe.”

It brought to mind Jesus’ words in another Gospel reading: “Many are called but few are chosen.” (Matt 22:14) I sat there thinking, God already knows if I will end up believing or turning against Him in the end. Look at Judas Iscariot, chosen as one of the twelve apostles; he believed at first but then turned on Jesus when things got a little dicey and betrayed Him. Jesus predicted Judas would do this. I felt a little afraid pondering the question, how are we to know that if we are called, we will be chosen? God already knows the answer but I’m a fallible human being, a sinner, who sometimes can stray from His path. Am I chosen?

And then an intuitive (perhaps also profound) answer hit me: If God led me to this place here and now – to His church, as a believer – and I choose to come and listen to His words and partake in eating of Jesus’ flesh and drinking His blood as He Himself said we must do to have eternal life – perhaps because I choose Him, He chooses me and as long as I keep choosing to believe and trying to do His will, I will remain in Him and He in me…and I no longer need to question whether I am chosen. I can be like Peter, who also made mistakes but knew it’s enough just to know there’s nowhere else to go.

Lord please help me not to doubt or worry whether I am chosen but to rest in the peace of knowing You called me to this place and time according to your perfect plan; help me to keep choosing to follow You.