Exodus 40:16-21, 34-38 / Matthew 13:47-53
A senior priest was sharing with a newly-ordained priest what to be prepared for in the ministry.
The senior priest said: We can’t determine or choose who we want to serve or wish to serve. We will serve whoever the Lord sends to us
That is so for the priestly ministry, and that is also in our daily lives.
We can’t determine who we will meet and interact with today.
We may have our preferences, but who we meet and interact with today are those whom God has arranged to meet with us.
While we wish that every person we encounter will give us a pleasant and enriching experience, it may not always be the case.
Our encounters with others can be like that of gospel parable of the dragnet that brings in all kinds of fish.
So, we will encounter all sorts of persons as we journey along in life
But whether inspiring or depressing, every encounter with another person is a learning and growing experience.
Let us reflect on our relationships and encounters with others.
May we see God in them and also listen to what God is saying through them.