GOD CHOOSES US ACCORDING TO OUR READINESS TO WORK

When God decides to call people to work in his vineyard, it is very obvious that he does not call  people because they are perfect, but because they are ready to allow the grace of God to work in them. Success in the vineyard of God is not about our talents and gifts, but how we have allowed God to use us for his work. 
In the first reading of today, we see the call of Isaiah to be a prophet of God to preach to the people of Israel. Isaiah entered the temple and experienced God in a vision; the glory of the kingdom of God was revealed to him, and he recognised and acknowledged how unworthy, unclean and unfit he was to be a prophet. God sent an Angel to purify his lips, therefore, he was consecrated and commissioned to begin the work of God. 
In the gospel reading, we see the encounter between Peter and his companions as fishermen, and Jesus. After his experience of the miracle with Jesus, Peter himself told Jesus to leave him alone because he was a sinner and unworthy of the call of God. 
God did not call Isaiah and Peter because they were perfect, but because of the values and virtues in them which they were ready to develop for use in the vineyard of God. They both acknowledged their sinfulness and nothingness before God, they were patient with God. Peter did not argue with Jesus when he was told to cast his net when it was obviously the wrong time, after he had spent the whole night there. Peter allowed Jesus to use his boat when preaching, though he may have beenangry not to have caught anything yet. Patience and hope are very important virtues of fishermen Jesus needed for the ministry. People are not just picked at random for the work of God, some qualities are needed, and it is God himself who kmiws us through and through who calls. 
Anyone who hears the words of Paul in the second reading may not believe that he was the same persecutor of the faith. Jesus knew his qualities such as courage, strength, eloquence and burning zeal; he chose him for the work and he did exceedingly well. 
Are you ready to work for God today? Grow the values and virtues within you, and God will use you mightily. 

Fr Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie, MSP