1 Samuel 3: 3-10, 19; 1 Corinthians
6: 13-20; John 1: 35-42
When it comes to rags to riches stories, there are
no rags lowlier than those worn by American slaves. Rising from the shackles of
slavery to extraordinary success required monumental amounts of hard work,
tenacity, and passion, and Frederick Douglass had these qualities in spades.
Douglass understood that nothing in life would ever be handed to him. When his
master's wife, who had been teaching him the alphabet, was reprimanded for
doing so by her husband, Douglass continued to learn to read by interacting
with white children and working through any written materials he could find.
Then he was traded to the cruel mastery of Edward
Covey, who regularly whipped Douglass.
In 1838, Douglass took his greatest risk yet and
escaped from slavery to Massachusetts. Douglass soon rose to prominence,
becoming an outspoken abolitionist, a spectacular orator, a bestselling author,
and a newspaper publisher. Dying in 1895, Douglass had risen from slavery to
become one of the most prominent and well-respected black men in the United
States, and worked to rebuild broken lives.
Mother Teresa grew famous for humbly ministering to
lepers, the homeless and the poorest of the poor in the slums of Calcutta. She
is held inn great honour today because she dedicated her life for rebuilding
the broken lives.
Today's theme is divine vocation. Everyone is
called by God to be something, to do something for others with his life and
with his unique gifts. Hence, today's readings remind us of our personal and
corporate call to become witnesses for the Lamb of God and to lead lives of
holiness and purity, and to rebuild broken lives.
What does it mean to be broken…well Webster
dictionary defines it as being shattered, damaged, or crushed.
What does it mean to rebuild….reconstruct means to
make extensive repair to and to remodel means to make extensive changes in.
Your life can be broken in various ways…spiritually, physically, emotionally,
or financially.
We see Jeremiah watching the Potter at work on a clay pot (18:3-6). It was damaged into pieces or didn't come out the way that the potter wanted. But something interesting happened here… He didn't throw that broken pot away, yet he picked up all the broken pieces and worked on it the processes that it needed to go through and made that same broken vessel into another beautiful creation.
The Lord declares "like clay in the hand of the potter so are you in my hand." Our God is capable of taking our brokenness and making us complete. Only Christ can rebuild what is broken and make it into something even better, but we must have faith that God can do that for us.
Another example is found in Nehemiah 2:17. This man of God heard about the walls of Jerusalem being broken. He also went and examined the walls himself and saw in person that they were broken. Instead of just hearing about the walls being broken and walking away and doing nothing…he headed the call and made up his mind to go and help rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. But in Nehemiah 2:12 he says"…I had not told anyone what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem." Because he knew that someone might discourage him from fulfilling God's plan for him. Just like that we may see someone struggling with something, we see first-hand their brokenness and if God stirs your heart to do something to help, then do as Nehemiah did pray, don't tell anyone, and have faith that God will enable you to complete your task. God can only use people that are willing and ready to help. That's the people God uses for his Kingdom.
Dear brothers and sisters that's our Christian
responsibility that we should help up our fallen brothers and sisters, and help
rebuild their broken lives in any way that God can use us. So, bring everyone
to Jesus. That is what John did. When Jesus was passing by John announced "Look!
There is the lamb of God." Two of His disciples followed Jesus and asked
him: "Rabi, where do you live?" Jesus replied, "Come, and
see."
This is
our mission to invite people who want to rise from their broken life, to come
and see.
Two men,
who had been business partners for over twenty years, met one Sunday morning as
they were leaving a restaurant. One of them asked, "Where are you going
this morning?" "I'm going to play golf. What about you?" The
first man responded rather apologetically, "I'm going to church." The
other man said, "Why don't you give up that church stuff?" The first
man asked, "What do you mean?" His partner said: "Well, we have
been partners for twenty years. We have worked together, attended board
meetings together, and had lunch together, and all of these twenty years you
have never asked me about going to church. You have never invited me to go with
you. Obviously, it doesn't mean that much to you." (John A. Stroman, God's
Downward Mobility, CSS Publishing Company).
As Jesus
passed by John, he happens to pass by us every day, every moment of our lives.
But some obstacles prevent us from recognizing him they are – pride, greed and
impurity. Jesus is calling us in many ways to rebuild our broken lives. Let's
listen to his call, and invite all to come and see Him.
Satish