From the Deacon’s Desk: Prayer and Inspirational Thoughts
July 25 – Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Line in a manner worthy of the call you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace: one body and one Spirit, as you were also called to the one hope of your one Lord…who is over all and through all and in all.” WOW! St. Paul places before us a tall order in our reading from Ephesians. We are not simply called to follow some rules or do some good. We are called to both be a part of the one body and one spirit connected to Jesus himself, but we are charged with preserving that very unity, spirit and hope by our actions, our attitudes and our desires. Our love for one another is to be total and complete, sacrificial and selfless, offered with humility, gentleness, patience and peace. As we do so, we are reminded in our gospel story that it is God himself who cares for all of our needs. He goes to whatever length necessary – even the sacrifice of His own son – to give us what we need. And through Jesus, he provides us life giving nourishment.
As Vincentians, we not only provide food to those who are in need, but we also provide for whatever needs they might have. “No act of charity is foreign to the society.” We are reminded through these readings though, that we are not the source of their care. We are the vehicle through whom God works. Our call is to be a direct reflection of the One (Jesus) who provides for all our needs. We are to do so with humility, gentleness, patience and unity to the spirit. We need to continually discern God’s will for those we minister to – as well as ourselves. And we need to humbly recognize that we can do nothing without his help and inspiration. How do I seek God’s will in all decisions? How do I recognize God as the source of all that I do? How do I unite myself in love to the one body and one spirit?
Lord Jesus, grant me the humility to recognize that with you, all things are possible and that without you, I can do nothing. Help me to always discern your will for those I minister to. Use me in serving those in need, to be an instrument of your care for them. We pray all of this in your name. Amen
Deacon Mike
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