Ministry

Another reflection on yesterday’s Gospel, one of the most moving montages in the Gospels:

At sunset, all who had people sick with various diseases
brought them to him.
He laid his hands on each of them and cured them…

At daybreak, Jesus left and went to a deserted place.
The crowds went looking for him,
and when they came to him,
they tried to prevent him from leaving them.
But he said to them,
"To the other towns also
I must proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God,
because for this purpose I have been sent."
Luke 4:40,42-43
(Yesterday’s reflection focused on verse 41)

All of us, ordained or not, are called to imitate Christ and continue the ministry of Christ in our respective ways.

People in need of Christ’s healing grace come before us all the time. Sometimes it can be overwhelming. Sometimes we divert our eyes and close our hearts, ignoring the opportunity to reach out and do what Christ wants us to do. This Gospel shows us the example of Christ: patient, diligent, and caring.

Most of us live very busy lives. We may fantasize about going to a deserted island, but very rarely actually go anywhere deserted. Too often we fail even to make a little time in our day for quiet, private prayer: going to a deserted place if only for a few minutes. This Gospel shows us the example of Christ: always remembering to take time to be alone with the Father in prayer.

We know how full of distraction the world is. We know also that it can be very easy sometimes for us to get sidetracked. Not all the distractions may be bad in themselves, nor all the things that may sidetrack us, but even good things can be deadly if they divert us from God’s purpose for our lives. This Gospel shows us the example of Christ: clear and focused on the purpose for which God has sent Him.

We must follow Christ and the example He set for us as we minister to others in our respective ways in His name.