Homily for January 24, 2020

As I was reading today’s Gospel passage, a seemingly insignificant line jumped out at me. It comes after Jesus summons those whom He wanted; it says, “And they came to Him.”

Jesus called the Twelve He wanted to be His Apostles. And they came to Him.

Jesus calls us every day; He is constantly reaching out to us. Do we go to Him when He calls? Do we even know when and how He calls us?

In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus tells us that He calls us through and is found in those who need help with the basics of life, like food, water, clothing, refuge; He is found in those who are sick and in need of our compassion and care, those who are imprisoned, especially those found there by oppression. (Matthew 25:31-46)

Do we recognize Jesus in these people? Do we hear His call through these people? Do we go to Him through these people? Hopefully, we do, because Jesus made it clear on many occasions that it is in people such as these that He may be found, and He may be served. +