God Directs Me to Where He Calls Me

When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he withdrew to Galilee. Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali— to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah: “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.” From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”  (Matthew 4:12-17)

When Jesus was thirty, he left Mary his mother and the carpenter's shop in order to fulfill the mission entrusted to him by his Father. I imagine it may be hard for him to leave his family and hometown and go to a far and unfamiliar place. I remembered when I first go to Metro Manila in search for work. Although I have relatives and friends here, it is difficult at first to familiarize with the place, with its people and culture. I think that must be what Jesus felt. Jesus had never been in Capernaum before.  He left his small town to settle in a commercial town in order to begin his public ministry. 


Why did Jesus began his ministry in Capernaum? Being a town of fishermen and merchants, hence a commercial town, it must have a lot of people who will listen and follow him. Later,  he will meet there his first disciples including Andrew and his brother Simon Peter. I reflected my life in parallel to Jesus'.  I am actually wondering why I am working as a technical support representative for an internet service provider when I am not too technical! As I see, God's hand is at work. He directs me to where he calls me. It is not an accident where I worked or why I met the persons there. I believe, God wants me to be a model to my co-workers and to be a good friend to them.


It is not an accident why I was transferred to a new account by Human Resources Management due to a major offense.  I committed an invalid outbound call due to negligence to call them on time. It is when I was transferred in my new account that I met  Kuya Khing who introduced me into the Faith and Light Community here in Pasig. At that time, I missed serving the parish for about three years. I was a head sacristan in my hometown for  years.  But when I finished college and started to work, I missed belonging in a community. And in Faith and Light, I met some of my fellow youth who later, appointed me as a core group member of  the Parish Youth Council. I believe that it is not an accident as well why I serve in a parish far from my hometown. God wants me to meet a lot of people whom I can share my life with and to be an instrument of inspiration to them. God wants me to share what i have learned in my own parish and in my Religious Education by performing my role as a Worship and Liturgy team head. Here I learned to develop my leadership and management skills. And before I am shy and reserved but here I learned how to build healthy relationships with others. In this parish, I felt the revival of my commitment to serve God  especially in my fellow youth. It is God who uses certain circumstances in my life in order for me to see, to understand and to fulfill my calling.


The ministry of Jesus began with success--- many followed him and believed in him, many came to him to listen to his word and to be healed from their illnesses. He began his preaching by proclaiming the coming of the reign of God in this world and the forgiveness of sins. It is because he doesn't just do the will of his Father, he hungers for it as a food that nourishes him (John 4:34). If we do the will of God, everything will be successful. We will fail if we do not fulfill what he wills from us. In my job, I got markdowns and low score from a Quality Assurance Specialist if I am not doing what is asked of me. In the same way, if we are not faithful to God's call and we continue to rely on our personal desires, we will not experience true success in life. 


As you sleep and as you wake up, I invite you to pray that God in his infinite wisdom may lead you to the knowledge and understanding of his will for your life. Pray for the courage to do his will although it far surpasses our way of thinking. Pray also to Mary our Mother that we may obtain the light of Christ that you may be faithful in doing God's will at all cost and at all times like her. 

Live according to God's gift to you and to where God has called you. (1 Cor 7:17) Because in him alone is our hope, our strength, are we justified and saved!