Yet again, my God,
I find myself in a familiar
and embarrassing position.

I love options,
I insist on choices,
yet I am afraid to choose.

I struggle to commit to one path,
to choose one course of action.

For I know that choosing this path means
leaving that path untaken.
Choosing option A means
option B will remain unknown
鈥� and I am terrified of the unknown.

You, too, had to choose:
Remain a carpenter?
Become a rabbi and teacher?
Turn stone to bread,
become a spectacle,
seize power.

You chose a different path.

With Samuel you said, 鈥淗ere I am, you called me.鈥�
You lived the psalmist鈥檚, 鈥淗ere I am, I have come.鈥�
You are the fruit of Mary鈥檚, 鈥淟et it be done to me according to your word.鈥�

Your choice was to be
who you were chosen to be
from the foundation of the world.
Healer, comforter. Challenger. Savior. Redeemer.
You drank from the chalice offered to you and
chose to become our choice.

Grant me the grace to choose you,
no matter the cost.

And should my choices lead to the cross 鈥� as they led you 鈥�
let my decision be strengthened by knowing that
you are at my side because you have chosen me to choose you.

鈥� Rev. Ryan Duns, S.J.