The Kitchen Sink
An occasional piece of paper
May 17, 2009
Vol. 12 no. 19

Everything But...
           This is the age of choosing. The commercials are always telling us authoritatively that choice is good. But ask any teenager and young adult about the choices available to them for their future careers and jobs. Typically, they are overwhelmed by too many choices, leaving them with little or no choice they feel ready to make.
          Even Jesus had a choice - whether to be a plain old human being or to be the extraordinary Christ. We have come to believe that in our faith we have a choice. However, Jesus chose first - you and I did not choose Jesus - he chose you and me. In the church, we are the chosen people.
          Isn’t it marvelous when you are chosen - especially when you did not know it was coming? Someone else is convinced you have the right stuff and qualities to do something well, and that affirms you like nothing else. A new job or special task, an opportunity for a new experience, perhaps being named to an all-star team or for an award or honour - to be chosen usually inspires you to do even more.
          What that means in the pew is that you have been chosen to be here because God has decided you are the right stuff. A truly daunting thought - do you dare to look at the other chosen person next to you in the pew?
          That phrase - the chosen people - has been used since the beginning of Biblical history. The Church has frequently adopted the concept, but too often there’s been a sense of entitlement - we are chosen and therefore more special than everybody else, and the others are un-special. We are quick to assume the pride and forget about the deep humility such chosen-ness calls for. Oh, there is that nagging question, what are we chosen for?
          You’d be surprised and that is the Gospel!