Your Call To Service And To Witness
I enjoy being called to do a retreat or a session for young people who are preparing for Confirmation. As I prepared a prayer service for one these sessions recently, on the topic of Discipleship/Service, it occurred to me how important it is to not only introduce young people to this important ministry, but also how we as adults need to be reminded of this same call. We are called to serve all people of God and to give witness to the Good News during our lives here on earth.
When my husband and I were first married, I learned that he had been sponsoring a young man in another country. I recall reading a letter the young man had sent thanking his sponsor for this service. The money received each month helped pay for the young man to go to school, get medical care and other important things we probably take for granted. You could hear the appreciation in his words, carefully chosen and translated to English. We received yearly pictures, updates and his family news. Even though we never met him in person, we knew the service we gave made a difference in his life. He has grown too old for the program and we miss hearing from him, but know he will go on to do great things. It was easy to say “yes” to sponsoring another young person, and now we hear from a beautiful young lady, who also expresses her gratitude in letters to us. It was a small gesture on our part, but a service that reminds us of how we can help others.
All the faithful contribute to the mission of the Church, each in his or her own way. There is a unity of mission in the Church, but a variety of ministries. The Church’s mission is to serve all of God’s people and directs our attention to all the needs of sisters and brothers inside and and outside of our parish community. This means we must help those with needs for food, clothing and sheltering the poor; visiting the sick and imprisoned; and bringing hope to those who are mourning or in despair. Each of us must find a way to be involved in serving others. By giving money and offering prayers, we can also support others who serve, especially in other parts of the world. We can work to correct structures in our society that are unjust and that create poverty and oppression. We can set an example for the young people in our lives and thus start them on a journey of service to others.
It is obvious that all members of the Church must work together. The tasks that must be done require the efforts and gifts of the whole community working together. Only when all of our efforts and talents are united will we be able to truly pray, “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is heaven.”
We are called to service by virtue of our Baptism. How are you currently helping in your parish and community minister to others? As the holidays approach once again, we are offered many ways to help others. I am grateful and blessed to have been a part of helping others with the young people in my youth ministry programs. My heart is full of memories as I recall the numerous times I witnessed these young people reach out to help those in need. I will continue to encourage those in the Confirmation program to do service, to be a good disciple of Christ. And I will always look for ways for myself to minister to others, because God’s Word challenges us to become ministers and servants of God’s love. What good works will you do to live your faith?
