The Chosen One
I recently re-watched the sixth film in the Harry Potter series, or as some of you know it as, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. The crux of this book focused on how Harry was the chosen one, to vanquish Lord Voldemort, the greatest Dark Wizard of all time. The hopes of the Wizarding World rested on an ordinary boy, sixteen years of age. He possessed no extraordinary wizarding powers, and he hardly knew as much about Dark Magic as Lord Voldermort. Yet, it was his destiny to rid the wizarding world of the most terrifying dark wizard to ever terrorise the wizarding world.
Of course, throughout the series, Harry never succeeded by his own merits. He nearly always had help from his friends, and quite honestly, Hermoine was clearly more skilled than he was. He also always had the guidance from his mentors, in particular, from Dumbledore and from the Order of the Phoenix. It'd be quite safe to say that Harry would not have succeeded without help from others. There were many others, even among his peers, who were much more gifted, and quite honestly, would have had a better chance at defeating the Dark Lord on their own merits. But in spite of all that, Harry was still the one, the chosen one, the one who was chosen by the prophecy to defeat the Dark Lord.
However, the prophecy also mentioned that Harry had a power that the Dark Lord knew nothing about. This would be what set him apart from Voldermort. And if you follow the series closely, you'd know that this power that Harry possessed, is nothing extraordinary. This power is the ability to love. This is what saved him in Godric's Hollow when Voldermort tried to kill him as an infant. This is the reason why Quirrel could not bear to touch him when he was defending the Philosopher's Stone at the mere age of 11.
It was Harry's love for the people around him that spurred him. This led him to the Department of Mysteries in the fifth book, to save his godfather. This led him to give his best efforts in his private lessons with Dumbledore. This led him to abandon his education and to devote his full attention to the search for the Horcruxes. And this ultimately saved the people around him. His ability to love.
Isn't it the same with us too, when God calls us to do something to build his kingdom? When we hear vocation stories of priests and religious, many of them share that the first question they ask when they first receive the call would be; "Lord, are you sure you want me? There are others who are better than me, more talented than me. I'm lacking in many areas". However, in spite of their imperfections, God chooses them. And it's their love for our triune God, his Church, and his people, that they answered the call, gave their lives, and touch the hearts of many through their ministry.
In Jesus' public ministry, he too did not choose extraordinary men to be his disciples. He chose the tax collector, the fishermen, rather than the doctor or the lawyer (of course that's not to say that he did not favour such people). There were others who were more qualified, and yet he chose the twelve of them. And it was by no extraordinary talent that they bore the faith to others. It was only by their love for Christ and for His people that they built the Church, which still stands today, 2000 years later.
Even among the saints, there were many who possessed no extraordinary talents or skills. A fine example would be St. Francis of Assisi. There were many others, even among the Saints, who were more talented than him. The things that this man did were things that any human being could do. From being friends with the Animals, to giving up all his possessions to live simply, these are things that are physically possible for any human being to do. Yet, the things he did are difficult for us humans to do, because of our desire for comfort and our pride. And yet, it was his love for our God and his people that he did all these things, inspiring the hearts of many, even till today, 800 years after his death.
And I suppose it's the same for us, even when we are called to do the smallest things for his kingdom, there are many others who are more equipped to do the job. However, God calls us. And it's only by saying YES and trusting in him that we are able to do what he calls us to do. And it's only by responding in Love that he can work in us.
In the words of Mother Theresa, not all of us are called to great things, but we can do small things with great love.
We are all chosen ones. There are definitely others who would be better suited to do the job. Yet, God calls us, each to different things in his vineyard. Can we respond in love?
Of course, throughout the series, Harry never succeeded by his own merits. He nearly always had help from his friends, and quite honestly, Hermoine was clearly more skilled than he was. He also always had the guidance from his mentors, in particular, from Dumbledore and from the Order of the Phoenix. It'd be quite safe to say that Harry would not have succeeded without help from others. There were many others, even among his peers, who were much more gifted, and quite honestly, would have had a better chance at defeating the Dark Lord on their own merits. But in spite of all that, Harry was still the one, the chosen one, the one who was chosen by the prophecy to defeat the Dark Lord.
However, the prophecy also mentioned that Harry had a power that the Dark Lord knew nothing about. This would be what set him apart from Voldermort. And if you follow the series closely, you'd know that this power that Harry possessed, is nothing extraordinary. This power is the ability to love. This is what saved him in Godric's Hollow when Voldermort tried to kill him as an infant. This is the reason why Quirrel could not bear to touch him when he was defending the Philosopher's Stone at the mere age of 11.
It was Harry's love for the people around him that spurred him. This led him to the Department of Mysteries in the fifth book, to save his godfather. This led him to give his best efforts in his private lessons with Dumbledore. This led him to abandon his education and to devote his full attention to the search for the Horcruxes. And this ultimately saved the people around him. His ability to love.
Isn't it the same with us too, when God calls us to do something to build his kingdom? When we hear vocation stories of priests and religious, many of them share that the first question they ask when they first receive the call would be; "Lord, are you sure you want me? There are others who are better than me, more talented than me. I'm lacking in many areas". However, in spite of their imperfections, God chooses them. And it's their love for our triune God, his Church, and his people, that they answered the call, gave their lives, and touch the hearts of many through their ministry.
In Jesus' public ministry, he too did not choose extraordinary men to be his disciples. He chose the tax collector, the fishermen, rather than the doctor or the lawyer (of course that's not to say that he did not favour such people). There were others who were more qualified, and yet he chose the twelve of them. And it was by no extraordinary talent that they bore the faith to others. It was only by their love for Christ and for His people that they built the Church, which still stands today, 2000 years later.
Even among the saints, there were many who possessed no extraordinary talents or skills. A fine example would be St. Francis of Assisi. There were many others, even among the Saints, who were more talented than him. The things that this man did were things that any human being could do. From being friends with the Animals, to giving up all his possessions to live simply, these are things that are physically possible for any human being to do. Yet, the things he did are difficult for us humans to do, because of our desire for comfort and our pride. And yet, it was his love for our God and his people that he did all these things, inspiring the hearts of many, even till today, 800 years after his death.
And I suppose it's the same for us, even when we are called to do the smallest things for his kingdom, there are many others who are more equipped to do the job. However, God calls us. And it's only by saying YES and trusting in him that we are able to do what he calls us to do. And it's only by responding in Love that he can work in us.
In the words of Mother Theresa, not all of us are called to great things, but we can do small things with great love.
We are all chosen ones. There are definitely others who would be better suited to do the job. Yet, God calls us, each to different things in his vineyard. Can we respond in love?
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