We have given up everything to follow you

I have mentioned this a few times before, but I think it is worth repeating.  As a child I remember a picture in one of my religion books, from second or third grade.  Now remember this is the mid-1960s.  On one page the was an illustration of a married couple, with the caption beneath which read, 'This is a good life.'  On the opposing page was a picture of a priest and a religious sister, in cassock and full habit of course, bearing the caption, "This is a better life."

For many generations, and probably even today, there was this unspoken understanding that priests and nuns had a higher, and a better calling.  Father and Sister did ministry in the Church while everyone else just came to watch.  This is strange in that since I was a young'in men and women were encouraged to take an active role in a variety of Church ministries.  Yet one of the comments which I often hear, that causes me to cringe, is that folks are doing something in the parish "to help Father."  Such a mindset lacks the commitment and ownership which is required in ministry.

Peter approaches Jesus today with the concern of having given up so much for what they do, and what return do they receive.  Jesus will, as he does multiple times in Mark's Gospel, reiterate that discipleship is about the cross.  The question we ask is not about the perks we might receive through a Christ-centered lifestyle, but rather how much more can we pour out?  The Gospels use the imagery of accepting the Gospel as a child, good Samaritan, and a foot washer.  These are models of discipleship.

More so, in the Epistle from this past Sunday, Paul will remind us that the gifts bestowed on us through the Holy Spirit are given us to build up the Church; the living Body of Christ.  Baptism Confirmation, and the Eucharist, are spring boards in which we launch into the world.  But if ministry is simply done to get service hours, or because Father needs help, we are missing something very essential in our relationship with the faith community.  This is why stewardship is so hard to understand for a lot of parishioners.

I am old enough to remember a day in which we had several people in my home parish who played the organ for Mass.  One of whom was a public school teacher.  None of these persons received a stipend.  To be sure today we require more training for our catechists and ministers of care.  But Baptism says we enter into a relationship of ongoing conversion and discipleship.  We take responsibility for the needs and concerns of the community because it is our community of faith.  We do not count the cost but give because it is the right thing to do.