Fr. Kevin's Cluttered Desk
July 21, 2024
After being sent out in twos to proclaim the good news of repentance and to cure and heal, the apostles returned to Jesus and told Him all they had done and taught. What I find interesting is that St. Mark does not say that Jesus thanked them or congratulated them; nope, no ‘thank you’, no ‘well done’, just come away and rest. It is one of the things I have discovered in ministry - if you are in ministry to get a thank you or some kind of accolade you are in ministry for the wrong reason. Jesus liked to remind the disciples that their reward/rewards are in heaven not here on earth. Let me give you a simple example. One of the greatest insults you can give to a choir or leaders of song in a church is to applaud at the end of the Mass. Why? Because when we applaud, we are saying that was a great “performance” and it becomes about the choir or leaders of song. Music at the Mass is there to accentuate the focus on Jesus, not the people. By bringing attention to ourselves we place ourselves in front of Jesus, not a good thing to do. When I think of how the apostles came back after their work, the concern that Jesus had for them was for them to rest and recover so they might go out again. Matthew and Luke take slightly different views on this but there is a parallel. In Luke, the servants are commended for their work but only in that they have done what they ought to have done. You are I, by our baptism, have been entrusted with a mission and ministry of building the kingdom of God on earth. Are we doing what we ought to be doing? In Matthew the disciples are commended for their good work for they have been entrusted with little and will now be entrusted with more. Do we recognize that the more we do, even more will be asked of us?
Thank you to all who do serve the Lord in both the big things and the little things, for all is of and for the service of God.
Peace Fr. Kevin
Thank you to all who do serve the Lord in both the big things and the little things, for all is of and for the service of God.
Peace Fr. Kevin
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