Daunting! - Reflection for Evening Prayer - Wednesday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time (Ephesians 3:20-21)

As Christians, we are called to live out the beatitudes; in particular, to perform the corporal and spiritual works of mercy for the least of our neighbors, as well as the stranger among us.  We are called to a life of service to the Church and to the World.  Let's not kid around, that is a daunting thought.  It is one thing live out the sacramental and liturgical life of the Church.  Yet, the fullness of the Christian life includes what happens between Mass.  How we respond to the call: "Go forth, glorifying the Lord by your lives."

As Christians, we called to take on the challenges within the Church head-on.  We are called to increase our awareness of those around us, meeting them where they are, and walking with them in faith.  We are called to help them conquer fear with love, discouragement with hope, and indifference with faith.   We are called to be conduits of the Holy Spirit to shape the culture and heal division.  In a Christian Anthropology class, Deacon James Keating would routinely ask us:  Are you ready for this responsibility?  Are you sure this is what you want?

Daunting!

Be not afraid!  Our reading today reminds us that God will do amazing things through us…things that are well beyond our imagination.  Just look at the examples we have from the past: Saint Augustine, Saint Francis of Assisi, Saint Catherine of Siena, Therese of Lisieux, and so many others.  These men and women didn't do great things because of their natural intelligence and abilities.  These men and women did great things because they completely surrendered their lives and their wills to God.  Their mission was the mission of God.  Their power was the power of God.  Everything they did was for the glory of God.

The same is true for us.  If we are feeling overwhelmed by certain aspects of the Christian life or by the idea of what we are called to do, you are not alone.  I think most of us have been there at various points of the earthly pilgrimage of life.  What I have learned about myself is that those times I am feeling overwhelmed or inadequate are usually the times I am trying to serve others on my own as opposed to allowing Jesus to serve through me.

God will do great things through us, far greater things than we can possibly imagine, if we can be humble enough to step aside and allow Jesus to serve His people through us.