Monday, August 25, 2014

A Thought

“Moses said to The Lord, ‘Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?’  The Lord said, ‘I will be with you; and this shall be the sign for you that it is I who sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall worship The Lord on this mountain’.”  Exodus 3:11-12

“Who am I” to do this wondrous, awesome, and overwhelming thing in the name of The Lord?  Who are any of us, really, when we think about what could be a life-changing transformation in which we are the Divine Tools, that The Lord would choose us and ask of us to reach out to His people?

Even trying to wrap our minds around such a thing is too much!  Yet a quick glance at the headlines in this state, in this country, and especially around the world we can easily see the need to be released from the bonds and shackles of this world are great.  And clearly The Lord means for His creation to be set free from the “empire” of the world that keeps us from getting closer to The Lord.  Yet this is the reality, a reality even the most faithful among us can often struggle with: a God who would go to such great lengths to do such wondrous things – and then choose little ol’ me … or you.  “Who am I”, indeed!

Whenever the task before The Church gets a little too big to wrap my own mind around, I always think of Mother Teresa’s great quote: “If you cannot feed 100 hungry persons, it’s ok; just feed one!”  That is, as great as the needs are in this crazy world, we each only need to touch one other of our neighbors – not to give them some empty religious formula that does not speak to their anguish, but to touch their lives in an intimate and fully giving way. 

That is the power of The Church.  Even though big churches can do big things and little churches can do little things, in the end it is the little things that matter most.  Not world-class entertainment, not charismatic preachers, and not even the great music we share.  No, it is the neighbor whose life is touched by “you” – as only “you” can. 

We may not believe we have much to offer, but we all have something to offer.  And so offer it we must because we realize that what we have to offer was never really ours in the first place.  It was entrusted to us for the sake of another.  Just as Jesus’ life was entrusted to Him so He could offer His life to others, it is no less true of those who choose to follow Him.

Yes, the little things matter and probably matter more than the rest.  And we all have it to share; the only decision left is whether we will.  “Who am I?”  And our Lord answers, “You are exactly what the world needs right here, and right now.” 

Blessings,

Michael

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