Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time/A
Massimo Palombella
In today’s Gospel (Matthew 9:36–10:8), Jesus calls the Twelve and sends them out on mission. The evangelist carefully records each of their names and, among them, we also find Judas, “the one who later betrayed him”.
It is a detail that should not go unnoticed. Jesus does not choose perfect people. He does not call those who have already arrived, but real people, with their own history, limitations, fears and even contradictions.
Among those Twelve, we find ourselves as well.
We often think that, in order to respond to a calling, we must first become different from who we are. The Gospel tells a different story: the Lord calls each of us from within the reality of our own lives, not from some idealised version of ourselves.
He calls some to be fathers and mothers, others to be priests, and others to live their work, relationships and daily responsibilities with seriousness and commitment.
Faith does not mean becoming someone else. Rather, it means allowing the truth of who we are to emerge, little by little. To follow the Lord is, above all, an act of trust: accepting that our lives, with all their strengths and frailties, can become a place of fruitfulness.
Even what we perceive as weakness or limitation is not necessarily an obstacle. Very often, it is precisely there that God meets us, loves us as we truly need to be loved, and leads us to discover the truth of who we are.
The Lord does not wait for us to become better before calling us. He calls us as we are and, as we walk with him, he gives us the possibility of becoming who we truly are.
The Gradual for today’s celebration is taken from Psalm 83 (Ps 83:10.9) and reads:
Protector noster, aspice Deus, et respice super servos tuos.
Domine Deus virtutum, exaudi preces servorum tuorum.
(O God, our protector, look upon us and watch over your servants.
Lord God Almighty, hear the prayers of your servants).
The accompanying music, in Gregorian Chant, is taken from the Graduale Triplex, published by Solesmes in 1979. The recording may be found on YouTube; however, no information is provided regarding the interpretation.
A blessed Sunday and heartfelt greetings.
