Once when I was living with my young niece, I was trying to help her make a simple decision about what to wear on a cold morning. Inside the house was comfortably warm and she was resisting the idea of needing to wear anything remotely suitable for outside conditions.  So rather than have an unnecessary struggle, I offered her choices. Do you want to wear this jacket or this other one? After due consideration she chose one of the two on offer. She felt she had some control over the situation. It was her choice.

Today’s Gospel tells of the followers of Jesus being sent out to share the extraordinary ‘good news’ on offer to each person. And just like my niece, the people to whom they were sent had a choice to accept the good news or to reject it.  Some chose to accept it while others turned away. It was their choice.

The memorial for today is the Feast of Saints Paul Miki and Companions. They too had a choice to follow their commitment to Jesus at the cost of their lives, or to deny the message of love that Jesus had invited them to share with others. It was their choice.

The message of Jesus is never forced upon anyone. We have the freedom to accept the invitation to follow Jesus more closely, more intentionally, or to be mediocre in our response to living the way of Jesus. It is our choice.

We may never have to make such a difficult decision as St Paul Miki and his companions, but our daily living calls us to be active in spreading the good news to all those with whom we meet. It is our choice.

Choose well today!

by Sr Anne Surtees osu