THEME: Our priorities in ministry
In the face of suffering man is, in the end, powerless (First Reading and Gospel). No matter how much comfort society provides, life on earth does not meet the aspirations of the heart. Christ has come as the redeemer and the conqueror of suffering and of death. He does not limit his healing mission to the ills of the body, but takes on the ailing soul to free the whole man, with a dedication (Gospel) that is mirrored by St Paul (Second Reading). The liturgy reminds us that our ministry can only be fruitful if we become like Christ offering our lives for service and not asking for anything in return.
In the first reading, Job laments about the vanity of man’s labour. For him, our life on earth is equivalent to pressed service or slavery or as he puts it, “Like a slave who longs for the shadow and the labourer who looks for their wages” (Job 7:2). Indeed, we can better appreciate why Job makes such an unguarded statement when we consider the suffering he was enduring.
The opposite is true in the gospel reading of today. We see a man who worked all day like a slave yet was ready to go the extra mile because he love to do what has been entrusted to him by his Father. Jesus demonstrates to us that ministry is service and must be offered freely. Let us always remember that Jesus never wanted any cheap popularity. Rather, he takes delight in doing his Father’s work whether it is rewarding or not. This should be our attitude as ministers and would be ministers of God.
The gospel of Mark is a gospel of urgency. Jesus draws our attention to the fact that the proclamation of the Good news demands of us an urgent response. To bring relief to people must not be taken lightly at all. It must consume us like it did to him. For, “As soon as they left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John. Now Simon’s mother- in – Law was in bed with fever and they told him about her at once. He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them” (Mark 1:29-31). As workers in the vineyard of the Lord, do we see ourselves laboring all day like slaves and when we are not rewarded, recoil into our shelves? As God’s people, do we see ourselves waiting on those who minister to us when we meet with God’s favour like Simon’s mother-in-law did to Jesus and his followers? This is the service expected by those who have been saved by Christ.
Peter and Andrews not only brought their friend James and John home with them from the synagogue but they also brought the Lord home. That is a good example for us to follow: do not leave Jesus at the Church- take him home with you and let him share in your blessings and burdens.
Our ministry like Jesus’ Ministry will only be fruitful when we learn to be with the Lord (Prayer). Jesus, recognizing that his Father is the source of his strength, will get up early in the morning to be with Him after a long day’s work. If only, we will recognise He who has called us, even when we are tired after a long day’s work, we will make time to be with Him. In whose ministry do we share? If it is Jesus’ ministry, then we cannot be faithful if we fail to be with him. It is only the desire for cheap popularity that will make us independent of the one in whose ministry we are called to share.
Ministry is twofold namely People centred and Christ centred. It is people centred because the joy of ministry is to see people relieved from their troubles; it is about being available to the people because, we are the instruments of healing for them; healing from all sorts of problems especially of their souls. It is Christ centred because, we are called to be with the one who has called us. It would appear that Jesus was at their beck and call of all kinds of people, including demoniacs and lepers and he lovingly ministered to them all. The Lord teaches us not to be selective in our ministry.
St. Paul in the second reading gives us lessons for what ministry is all about.
• It is a duty; a responsibility. Paul had one great goal in life: to glorify the Lord by winning the lost and building up the saints. To reach this goal, he was willing to pay any price. He was willing even to give up his personal rights. He sacrificed immediate gains for eternal rewards; immediate pleasures for eternal joys.
• It is a vocation; a call to service. It is not our duty to demand for a reward because like Paul said “For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward; but if not of my own will, I am entrusted with a commission. What then is my reward? Just this: that in my proclamation, I may make the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my rights in the gospel” (1 Corinthians 9:17-18). If we learn to depend on the Lord, He will make our wants his care.
• Paul is urging us as ministers to set our priorities right; the things that really matter in our lives. It is unfortunate that some Christians have their personal priorities confused with their calling and as a consequence hindering the work of Christ. If each believer were seeking the kingdom of God first and its righteousness, there would be plenty of money for missions, plenty of missionaries for service and the work of the Lord would prosper.
• Unlike Job, Paul teaches us that our responsibility as ministers of the Word and Sacraments does not change even in moments of adversity. For, it is vital for every human being to have a meaning in life. When it is non-existent or superficial, one feels an emptiness deep within and one crumbles in the face of suffering and the harsh realities of life. But one who has a ‘why’ to live can manage anyhow. Even adverse circumstances cannot crush a person who has a deep seated reason to live. So have a deep seated reason to live like Paul and that reason is to become all things for all men in order to save some.
In conclusion, in the opening prayer of today’s liturgy, we see a summary of what the saviour does “In your mercy and loving kindness, no thoughts of ours is left unguarded, no tear unheeded, no joy unnoticed. Through the prayers of Jesus, may the blessings promise to the poor in spirit lead us to the treasures of your heavenly kingdom.” The lament of Job in the first reading is our own story. When life’s burdens weigh us down, we are prompt to make unguarded statements; we even forget that God exists. But Jesus provides the remedy. He ministered to such people. We are called to do same.
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