God's Call: Invitation to Communion

 Reflection on Today's Readings, Saturday of 1st Week of Ordinary Time, Year 11, January 15th, 2022
Texts:1 Samuel 9: 1 - 4. 17-19; 1 0: 1; Psalm 21:2-7; Mark 2:13- 17
Today's Readings bring to mind the revelation to St. John: "Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me" (Rev. 3:20). In today's first reading, God revealed Saul to Samuel as the chosen king for His people. Samuel anointed him and ate with him. In today's gospel reading, Jesus called Matthew and went into his house to eat and wine with him. Eating and drinking is a sign of communion with one another. Eating with Jesus Christ is a sign of having communion with him. It is also an entry into a covenantal relationship with God. This tells us that when Jesus Christ calls us, He also enters into communion with us; He participates in our life and we are to participate in His life too. The call to be Christian is a call to follow Jesus Christ; the call to follow Jesus Christ is a call to participate in His life. We are invited to live the life of God: life of holiness, life of love, a righteous life and just life. We are to be Christlike in our ways of life. Put differently, we are to walk the way of Jesus Christ.
We could see in our relationship with Jesus Christ a kind of marital relationship: God shares in our life and we also share in His life. Marriage imagery is often used to describe the relationship between God and His people (Jer. 2:2; 3:1-5; Hos. 1-3). Today's gospel reading shows that the followers of Jesus Christ are now the new people of God. Being His people, He is now our God.
The eating and drinking is also a pledge of eternal life. The life in heaven is described in term of banquet. In the words of Jesus Christ: "I tell you, I will never again drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom” (Mtt. 26:29). Communion with Jesus Christ on earth is a pledge of eternal life in heaven.
We also learn, today, that we do not call God but God calls us; our relationship with Him is a response to His call. Being the one who calls, He is to dictate what the relationship looks like; He sets the rules for the relationship. We answer the call to keep His commandments. This means to enter into relationship with Him is to embrace His will, to keep His commandments. We have to let go our own will for His will. God initiates the relationship because He always loves us. God loves us unconditionally but we love God because He loves us. Hence, to the question why He was eating with sinners, He said, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” He does not love us because we are good or holy but because He has the prospect that we can be good and holy, if we are loved. God runs after us to love us. Let us respond to God's call for love, that we may enjoy His love and goodness.

God our Father, thank You for calling us to participate in Your life; may we always yield to Your call to participate in Your life. Amen.

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke