No matter who you are or where you come from, what you have done or failed to do, you are unique and have a unique role to play in the world. God has something for you to do, something only you can do. This is what the prophet Isaiah tells us today. Nobody else has your gifts and talents; nobody else can offer the world what you have to offer. God has called each
of us by name, while we were still in the womb, sending us to be a light to the nations. Isaiah tells us that when we listen to the Lord, our personal mission becomes apparent.
In the Gospel the disciples struggle to understand how they are to be sent by God. We sense their confusion. Like us, they were not always good at listening and paying attention to Jesus. We see that even Peter, who has been with Jesus for so long, still has little understanding. He does not realise that because of his failure to listen and understand, he will deny Jesus a few hours from now.
We will see later how, even just before Jesus is arrested, the disciples do not understand. Despite the fact that Peter will go on to deny Jesus, it is important for us to realise that even though he does this, God still knows that he has a unique contribution to make to the world. Peter will lead the Church after the resurrection, he is the rock on which the early Church will be built. Despite his lack of understanding and denial of Jesus, Peter has been called from his mother’s womb to be a
light to the nations.
It might be helpful to compare Judas’ betrayal and greed with Peter’s failure to understand who Jesus is. God understands our inability to comprehend and our ongoing failure to listen. God still calls us and sends us because we are gifted and have a unique contribution to make. On the other hand if we, like Judas, deliberately intend to go against what we know to be right, we may end up in a
mess like Judas. Note that in the reading night and darkness are referred to. Judas knows what he is doing is wrong as it is all done at night and in darkness. Judas does not bring his gifts to the world and use them to be a light to the nations.
The passion of Jesus shows us just how much God longs to see us using our gifts and talents. Despite our failures God sends us on a mission. Am I like Peter, slow to understand yet willing to be a light to the nations? Or am I like Judas, hearing the Lord but showing no commitment?
Peter or Judas, where do I stand?
Jesus is about to endure death for us, what gifts and talents do I have and what can I offer as a sign of gratitude to God?
