Jesus empowers us to be the best of the best of the best

Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor.

By Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor

+ O Israel! O Ephraim!

No matter how much God loved you, was faithful to you and to his covenant with you — no matter how many times he forgave and forgot — no matter how many blessings he poured upon you even when you took them with little or no appreciation, you still turn to other gods, the Baal gods.

Shame! Shame! Shame!

They say his wrath blazed against you, and you had to be punished (he did, or they said he did; or they said he said he did).

But what he clearly says today through Hosea (finally, he sounds truly like the God I know) is: “My heart is overwhelmed, my pity is stirred. I will not give vent to my blazing anger, I will not destroy Ephraim again; For I am God and not man, the Holy One present among you; I will not let the flames consume you.”

Let me repeat: “For I am God and not man [woman]” (let’s be inclusive here). “The holy one among you.”

Now you are talking, my God. You do not need us; we need you! We did not create you; you created us! There is nothing that limits you! There is much that limits us!

+ And here, my dear and sadly deceased friend, Sister Molly, enters.

I met her through a mutual friend when I was a young priest. It was an immediate and lasting friendship. She used to say to me: “You’re the best of the best of the best.”

It did not go to my head. In fact, it had quite the opposite effect. She did not just affirm me, although she did do that.

No, it was much more.

She called me. She empowered me to become my best. She saw something in me and would not let it be wasted or not come to fruition. She saw and made me better than I saw or was myself.

Jesus, in the Gospel, does the same. It sounds like Jesus is forming apostolic Marines: “You are the best of the best of the best!”

And he sent them forth. He gave multiple instructions. He told them not to depend upon material stuff, but to believe that the powerful kingdom of God was in their midst, had to be proclaimed, would care for their deepest needs, would empower their lives and ministry.

Indeed, Jesus saw and called them to something great.

Now here we must encounter the word, not just hear it or understand it with our brains. We must encounter the word. It must mix with our hearts and souls and transform.

Do you think that Jesus said this once only — to twelve only, on one occasion only, once and for all? Please!

Do we not hear those same words spoken to us again and again and again?

Jesus (and Sister Molly) got it right and said it right, and says it right now and always: “You are the best of the best of the best!”

Do we believe it?

Father Perry D. Leiker is the 14th pastor of St. Bernard Catholic Church. Reach him at (323) 255-6142. Email Father Perry at perry.leiker@gmail.com. Follow Father Perry on Twitter: @MrDeano76.