God doesn’t call the equipped, He equips the called.
I thought for sure Mother Teresa was the wise proclaimer of this statement, but when I looked it up to verify I was very much mistaken. It finds its roots in the author of Wisdom through the inspired Word of God as written by St. Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians.
“Consider your own calling, brothers. Not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. Rather, God chose the foolish of the world to shame the wise, and God chose the weak of the world to shame the strong, and God chose the lowly and despised of the world, those who count for nothing, to reduce to nothing those who are something…” ~ 1 Corinthians 1: 26-28
It is a good one isn’t it!
Mother Teresa, in her wisdom, did say something that is along these lines.
“God does not call you to be successful, He calls you to be faithful.” ~ Mother Teresa
These past Sundays in Ordinary Time have focused on Faith, either a powerful demonstration of a strong faith, or an astounding lack of even a weak faith. The woman with the hemorrhage believed she only needed to touch the hem of Jesus’ garment and she would be made whole, and Jarius firmly believed if anyone could save his daughter it was Jesus. These people were practically strangers to Jesus. Conversely, last week the people who knew Jesus from His childhood questioned how He could have such wisdom and the power to work such mighty deeds. Isn’t that Joseph, the carpenter’s son? How is it possible that such a great man could come from such a simple background? Jesus was amazed at their lack of faith!
One could argue that the Apostles knew Jesus better than those in His hometown. They had witnessed His miracles great and small worked for the seemingly most insignificant of people. Yet when they, His chosen band, were at risk of capsizing in the storm they appeared indignant when they woke Jesus from His rest and asked, “…do you not care that we are perishing?” He asked, “Do you not yet have faith?”
Clearly the Apostles were not getting the message. I don’t know about you, but this is one way I can relate to the Apostles!
So, the Good Teacher that Jesus is, today we see He gives His chosen students, His Apostles, a special assignment. Go, drive out demons! Oh, sure, no problem. Can you picture the Apostles giving each other high fives, pulling the “Yes!” hand pump, and shouting for joy, “We’ve got this!” Somehow I do not think that was their initial response. They had reason to respond this way, but they were lacking something.
The Good Teacher that Jesus is, had already modeled how to do this, and He gave them everything they needed to complete the task: specific instructions and His authority to do what He gave them to do. Jesus knew they needed the opportunity to exercise what they lacked. What comes to mind is that classic line, ask for patience and God will give you opportunities to be patient. Well, the Apostles needed Faith and Jesus gave them the opportunity to break it out and use it. I cannot imagine there was any real excitement about being charged with traveling to strange places and driving out demons. Any human person knows that there is a tremendous risk when engaging with the fallen angels. And Jesus wants them to tell these supernatural creatures to “Go away!” The Apostles just need to have FAITH that Jesus’ word is good, and they can do what He asks of them.
As an English teacher I flinch at the change in tense within that previous sentence, but there is a reason for it.
Scripture is not merely a stagnant record of past events applied to those people, in that place, and at that time. It is the LIVING WORD OF GOD and it is meant for all people, in all places, and at all times. Through Scripture God speaks to you and me, here and now. So really we just need to have FAITH that Jesus’s word is good, and we can do what He asks of us. How? In the same way the Apostles were not only able to drive out demons, but effect healing upon those they anointed with oil: BY THE GRACE OF GOD, THROUGH THE GIFTS HE GIVES TO EACH OF US, WITH FAITH IN HIM.
I get this. In my head it makes sense. It is simple really. However, not all simple things are easy to do. It takes a constant daily decision to have FAITH. We are in Ordinary Time, the Growing Time of the Church year. It is the longest season because like the Apostles who needed the opportunity to practice faith, we need the most time to grow in the practice of the virtue of Faith.
We are also smack dab in the middle of summer vacation and sometimes the days and weeks can become a blur. We can lose sight of the Goodness of God in our daily lives, and our faith can weaken. What could be done to bring God’s Goodness back into focus and strengthen our faith? Faith is a gift and needs to be nurtured by daily prayer and a life in the Sacraments. I imagine that rather than high-fiving each other at the thought of driving our demons, the Apostles looked at each other and sincerely prayed, “God help us!” What a beautiful place to start!