The Mission 

   Daniel was a young man full of faith.  He loved the Lord and lived each day trying to serve Him in every way possible.  God took note of Daniel and was pleased.

   One night the angel Gabriel came to Daniel in a dream saying, “The Lord God has sent me to you.  In this town there are two brothers, now quite elderly.  In their youth an event occurred which drove a wedge between them.  They have not seen or spoken to each other for many years.  God asks that you go to the brothers, tell them of God’s love for them and that He asks that they reconcile with each other.”

   Daniel accepted God’s mission, going the very next day to each of the brothers.  He did as Gabriel had instructed, telling them of God’s love for them and urging them to reconcile their differences and become family once more.

   Each brother rejected Daniel’s pleas, claiming that the fault lied with their brother.  Each demanded an apology from the other and refused to even consider reconciliation until the apology was offered.

   Over the next weeks and months Daniel returned to the brothers many times pleading with them to forgive each other and reconcile before it was too late.  Each time he was rebuked and sent away.

   Finally, he saw that one of the brothers had died and shortly afterwards the second followed.  In his sadness Daniel went to the Lord in prayer, sorrowful that he had failed in his mission.

   Again, Gabriel came to Daniel in a dream.  “Do not sorrow Daniel, you did not fail in your mission.  You did what was asked of you and went beyond the asking by your many efforts to bring the brothers together.  The decision was theirs to make and they refused.  Your efforts have pleased the Lord greatly.”

 

   As Christians we are to reach out to others, sharing the good news of the gospel.  But, as this little story illustrates, the final decision is not ours to make.  Each must decide for themselves to accept or refuse God. 

Let me share Your love with others.

Telling them of Your great mercy.

May they accept Your great love.

Bringing You into their heart. 

Amen