Ministry Monday

You just never know. Monday dawned unimpressive. Nothing exceptional planned for the day although I knew that evening would bring the end of the catechism year and a prayer service. It would be the first day of work in a new month after a particularly busy and productive month of April.

When I woke this morning I spent time in my daily prayer book realizing that today was a feast in honor of two Apostles, Philip and James. St. James is one of my favorite early saints so I read the prayers for the feast day and put my day in the intecessory hands of the good saints. It must have worked.

I received a call today from a friend who needed some help. I agreed to meet and was so happy I did. Not expecting what would be shared, I was able to assist in a family issue and thanks be to God, believe I was able to be of some help. No further details provided here. Let's just say that it is amazing how many families have so much to deal with, so many difficulties to overcome. As I have said so often before, while making no judgements at all here, I truly wonder how we can get through this journey called life without placing ourselves in the will of God the Father, trusting completely in His mercy and love.

When I arrived at Church tonight, just minutes before our prayer service, I discovered that our Pastor was unavailable, attending to a sick parishoner, so I was asked to give the year-end reflection. I quickly read the Gospel that would be proclaimed tonight and began praying. The Holy Spirit always comes through as I preached on the amazing gift of Jesus coming to us like a small baby, growing into the one crucified for our sins and conquering death by His Resurrection. The comparison was made in relation to the story of the mustard seed in Matthew's Gospel. This smallest of seeds becomes a grand plant. And I was inspired to speak directly to the parents tonight, reminding them that it is us, parents and grandparents, who are the first teachers of the faith. And our efforts should be in harmony with the solid teachings of the Church as contained in our carefully prepared lesson plans.

At the end of the evening, our Pastor arrived to share with all of us that the sick parishoner he went to is a gravely ill 11 year old. His situation is serious. At the end of Father's request for prayers I asked the students to lead us all in a Hail Mary for our sick brother in Christ.

I share all of this with you because these are the things that happen when we place ourselves in God's will and let Him be the Lord of our life; even our very day. Today I was reminded, let God be God and be prepared to follow His lead.

Another ho-hum Monday was transformed into ministry Monday. And this is what I, as an ordained minister, and you, in whatever vocation state of life you find yourself, are called to, each and every day of our life.