The
other day I read a children's book with my 6-year-old grandson.
It
was called The Invisible Boy.
The
main character was a boy about his age.
It
turns out, the boy wasn't really invisible.
People
just treated him like he was.
Treated him like he wasn't there.
His
teacher was too busy with “problem kids” to pay much attention to
him.
He
was quiet.
His
classmates didn't bother to get to know him.
He
ate lunch alone, didn't get invited to the birthday parties.
Classmates
never chose him to be on their teams.
But
he didn't complain, he just quietly bore the neglect.
A
pretty sad story.
But
it had a happy ending.
A
new boy moved to the school and the two boys struck up a friendship.
It
was actually the invisible boy who made the first move in that
friendship.
The
new boy's novelty made him popular with the classmates.
And
he used that popularity to lead the whole class
To
finally see and accept and appreciate the invisible boy.
To
choose him as a welcome addition to their group.
The
book showed that this was good for the invisible boy.
It
was good to be accepted, recognized, appreciated.
It
was good to finally be chosen.
But
it was also good for all the class.
They
found a hidden treasure they had overlooked for so along.
In
today's Gospel, Jesus chooses twelve Apostles from among his
disciples.
Surely
they were all happy to be chosen for their special positions.
Even
later, when they realized that being chosen brought new
responsibilities.
Even
burdens.
We
should be happy too.
Because
we too have been chosen.
Just
like those Apostles.
We
were chosen and given the gift of faith.
And
also chosen to meet the responsibility of sharing that faith.
Much
like the new boy at school.
We
come with something new, something fresh.
A
New Evangelization.
Good
News made relevant to modern times by our own modern lives.
We
can help others to finally see the invisible friend that dwells among
them.
See
and accept and appreciate the invisible treasure they've ignored for
so long.
Tuesday, 23rd Week of Ordinary Time
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