Daily Gospel Reflection for November 30, 2019

Reflection by Christina Weigand Today's Gospel: Matthew 4:18-22 - St. Andrew My sister Cheryl always seemed to be more suited to be the oldest. If you look at those studies showing traits associated with birth order, she had all the firstborn traits. I, on the other hand, placed lower on the birth order chart. Cheryl knew many people and touched many lives. I don’t know for sure how she touched those lives. I vaguely remember hearing about a church connection in Alaska, where she was living when she died. Whatever those connections, God believed she fulfilled her mission on earth and called her home on a fateful day in 1989. Meanwhile I traveled nowhere, married, had a home and children, and overall led a boring, complacent life. Or at least I thought so. While Cheryl was in the foreground fulfilling God’s purpose, and I’m sure He had some purpose even if I don’t know what, I was in the background being prepared for mine. Like Peter and Andrew, Cheryl and I had very distinct and different personalities. God chose each one of us because of those traits and in His time and His way has used them to further His message on earth. Cheryl, like Peter, was a bright, shining billboard, with some rough edges that, when smoothed and polished, drew people to her and then to God. Both Cheryl and Peter made mistakes and stumbled, but drove straight ahead not fearing the risks, becoming bright stars for God. I, like Andrew, am more cautious, pulling back and contemplating before I dive in. My light is slower to shine and sometimes may even be missed. But when it is realized, it shines as brightly for God. God chooses all of us. Whether a bright star or a slow starter He is molding you, working through you to achieve His glorious ends.

Ponder:

Do I compare my calling to someone else's and feel as if I am coming up short, or do I accept God's calling in my life and do the work that has been asked of me?

Pray:

Lord, I thank you for calling me to do Your work. May I continue to do it with a loving, grateful heart with You by my side until the day You call me home. Amen.

Copyright 2019 Christina Weigand Christina Weigand is a writer, wife, and mother of three grown children and a teenage daughter. She is also Nana to four granddaughters. She lives with her husband and youngest daughter in Pennsylvania. She has three published YA novels, a woman’s Bible study and two middle-grade fantasy. Jesus fills her home with love as she shares Him through her writing. Receive CatholicMom.com newsletters in your inbox, including the Daily Gospel Reflection each morning! * indicates required