The Lord sent them out

For the last few weeks, when I enter the church, I notice the poster for the Diocesan Services Appeal.  For the last two dozen years I have done the stewardship speech and then we collected pledge cards.  I am fairly certain some folks donate some money, not really thinking about what or who it is supporting, others, donate in the hopes that 'Father' will shut up, and still others donate nothing because of some hurt; perceived or real.

One of the challenges that we are given in the Scripture, and is spelled out for us in the Vatican II documents, is that we have a ministry as Church.  Each of us somehow participates in the work of the Body of Christ.  But to make it work we have to 'own' the work of the Church.  Not in the sense that "this" is my area and nobody had better bother it, but to be part of the work of catechesis, liturgy, visiting the sick, comforting the dying, and working for justice and peace.

Certainly Amos gets his hands slapped to doing what he is called to do.  A little later we will see that his life is in extreme danger as he proclaims what is true and right.  God has already given us purpose and direction through the gift of his Son, so we take it the next step by sharing what we have seen and heard in our faith. We might object and say that we do not have the time.  But it is not even about doing programs, per se.

We are to be conscious about our words, wisdom, and actions.  People should see an authentic faith in us.  So whether we are the parish small group coordinator, or buying melons at the store, how we respond and interact with others becomes part of our ministry.  Different gifts and talents with one end - the Kingdom of God.  People will recognize when we are patient, honest, cheerful, and all of those other virtues St. Paul talks about.

Baptism and Confirmation asks us to be aware of our participation in the Body of Christ.  Faithful followers take responsibility for faith, and live at the higher standards of a moral life.  It becomes like that really awful song from the sixties says, "They will know we are Christian by our Love,"  whenever our choices are true, beautiful, and good, we are participating in a prophetic ministry.  But first we have to own it.