Unlikely Disciples

One of the great things about the Christian faith is that God calls us to be his people even though we are a rather unlikely bunch to be chosen.  I have just been reading the account at the beginning of Luke 22 of Judas agreeing to betray Jesus to the religious leaders.  Why on earth did Jesus choose a disciple who was going to betray him?  Henry Wansborough, in the little BRF commentary on Luke, writes about this incident: "It has been asked how Jesus could have made the mistake of choosing as one of the twelve foundation stones of the new Israel a disciple who would betray him.  Not that he was very successful in choosing stalwart, reliable quick learners who understood his message and persevered in their support for him!"  The first disciples were a pretty unlikely collection.  We might see that as confirmation that nothing really changes.  However, God does change things.  We might describe God as a transforming God.  And the remarkable thing is that God's chosen partners are a bunch of unlikely disciples.