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