From the Deacon’s Desk:  Prayer and Inspirational Thoughts

July 11 – Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

We get more insight this week into the call of God to go out and proclaim his word.  It is easy to think we should leave that mission to the professionals – the ones who are well trained.  But it is God who chooses his ministers and when.  Anyone of us can be   called upon – and indeed we are – to proclaim his glory and his truth.  Amos in our first reading was an ordinary man.  None of the apostles were extraordinary in any way.  They were fishermen, a tax collector and so on.  Their ability to carry on the mission was not dependent on their skills.  It was about them being in total accord with God’s will, listening to and following his call, and trusting in his will for them.  God works through everyday people, including us. The Word of God wants to work through every person, using each of us in our time to be the messenger of God’s truth.

Paul is very clear in his letter to the Ephesians about our purpose of being in total accord with the will of God in all that we do and are so as to give praise and glory to him. “In him we were chosen, destined in accord with the purpose of the One who accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will, so that we might exist for the praise of his glory.”  In the gospel, Jesus gives us clear direction about how to go out fulfilling his will and completing his mission.  We do not accomplish his mission alone, but rather, we go out two by two.  We do it as ordinary people in accord with God’s will for us and others.  Our success or failure is not dependent upon us or our skills.  For God equips us with what we need and he does not call us to be successful, but rather, simply to be faithful.

As Vincentians, we are reminded once again that our prime motivation is to grow in holiness by listening to the voice of God and doing his will for the praise and glory of him alone.  We need not worry if we will be up to the job.  We need only to enter into our ministry through prayer, seeking God’s will and being faithful to it.  Jesus tells us to do this by going out to the poor and vulnerable two by two taking his message of hope and healing.  Sounds like the recipe for a good home visit!  How do I walk humbly as part of a team, inspired by God’s will, carrying his message of hope out into the homes of those I visit?  How does my passion for the Lord reflect in my passion for the poor?  How well do I discern God’s will and follow it faithfully and in total trust?

Lord Jesus, grace me with the courage to accept your will in my life and the lives of others.  Allow me to come humbly to you in prayer seeking your will.  Give me the wisdom – give me your Spirit – that I may be faithful and honor your will in my life.  Help us to discern your will that we might go out two by two into the homes of those in need, bringing praise and glory to your name.  Instill in me the passion of your love for those who are most vulnerable.  We pray all of this in your name.  Amen

Deacon Mike