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Bob Rice blog

The first line of today’s reading at Mass jumped off the page and slapped me in the face:

Brothers and sisters, the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable. (Romans 11:29)


I watch TV and see amazing talent. Brilliant writing. Amazing cinematography. Inspiring acting. All of these gifted people working together to create something... but the thing doesn't glorify God. In fact, it can often pull people away from God. So why doesn't God take away those gifts?

Because the gifts of God are irrevocable.

I look at the Church. You know what? Lots of times we discover that we're not the sharpest tools in the shed. We're often not the best people for the job, at least in a "worldly" perspective. And when I reflect upon my own sinfulness, I seriously question why God would want me to stay in ministry and be an ambassador for Him. Why doesn't God call someone else?

Because the call of God is irrevocable.


He gives His gifts. He makes His call. We might not use those gifts for His glory and we might not answer the call, but He doesn't pull them back. No matter how we respond to them, the gifts and the call of God is irrevocable. 

I was wondering why He would do such a thing and then I heard the Gospel reading. Jesus told people that when you hold a banquet, don't just invite rich people who can pay you back. He said:

"Rather, when you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you." (Luke 14:14)


It struck me that Jesus always practices what He preaches. He wasn't just giving us advice on how to run our banquets (because when is the last time you hosted a banquet?) but He was showing us how He invites people to His banquet. Who does He invite? The poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind. People who could never pay Him back for His generosity. 


In other words, us.


It makes sense, then, that our gifts and call are irrevocable. Since we were unable to ever "afford" them in the first place, how could we possibly lose them? 


He gives us gifts He will never take back. We receive an invitation He will never rescind.


It's reason #5,697,823 of how God is not like us.


-Bob Rice, Reason #5,697,823 (10/31/11)
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