My granddaughter just graduated from preschool. As the class took their positions on the stage to sing for us, we began to stretch our necks and try to spot the “one who belonged to us.” At last I spotted my granddaughter half-hidden behind a taller child. Through the performance I kept my eyes glued on her. Why do we “single out” our children and grandchildren from the rest of the crowd? Do we not like the other children too? Of course we do, but we focus on the one who belongs to us.
Gathered with his apostles at the Last Supper table, Jesus began a heartfelt prayer. It is interesting that his prayer focused on this select group that God had “singled out” to follow him. We would think that his last prayer would be one for world peace, or the elimination of poverty, or for the future Church. It wasn’t. Instead he focused entirely on the little band of men who sat at table with him (John 17:1-11). Praying to his Father, Jesus said:
“I revealed your name to those whom you gave me out of the world. They belonged to you, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word.”
Of the thousands of people in Israel during the time of Jesus, a small group was singled out. It wasn’t Jesus who picked them out; it was his Father. Even before Jesus emerged on the public scene these chosen ones belonged to the Father; he had selected them out of the world even though they didn’t realize what was happening. Then at the right moment, the Father gave them to Jesus. This small group was faithful; they kept God’s word. They believed that Jesus was sent by the Father, and they fully accepted the teachings of Jesus—even when many others chose to leave him and go a different direction.
“I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for the ones you have given me, because they are yours, and everything of yours is mine, and I have been glorified in them.”
Are we shocked to hear Jesus say, “I do not pray for the world?” That’s being kind of exclusive isn’t it? Like we grandparents watching the preschoolers perform, Jesus focused only on those who belonged to him. They were special because God, himself, had given these men to Jesus; they belonged to him and no one else. The “world” did not belong to Jesus.
Because our experience of Church tends to be associated with a crowd of people gathered for worship, we tend to forget that we have been “singled out.” Jesus made it clear that even if a shepherd had one hundred sheep, he knew each of them name, and if one strayed, that shepherd would leave the ninety-nine behind until he had rescued the one that was lost. Jesus is a Shepherd who is not interested in crowds; he is interested in persons.
Why is it that God “singles out” people, and chooses them for himself. Why did we get selected to be baptized and handed over to Jesus for life? How is it that God’s hand is on each of us?
Do I believe that when I go to Church, Jesus comes down from the altar and walks up to me and says “you are mine; I am praying for you; come follow me.”? No member of the Body of Christ is an anonymous face in the crowd. None is without a specific purpose in Jesus’ mission to bring the Kingdom of God more fully to the world. God has his eye on each of us because we “belong to him.”
Today we also listen to St. Paul’s departing words to the Ephesians (Acts 20:17-27).
“I consider life of no importance to me, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to bear witness to the Gospel…”
Do I believe I also have a ministry? Do I want, above all else, to finish the course and carry out the unique ministry God has given me? Do I believe that I have been singled out for a purpose? Do I realize that, right now, Jesus is calling me out by name?
“I am the first and the last, I was dead and am now alive” (Revelation 1:17-18).
