Doing the Work of The Lord

Doing the Work of The Lord
A Reflection of the Readings for October 1, 2006Numbers 11:25-29, Psalm 18, James 5:1-6, Mark 9:38-48
By Rev. Robert Johnnene OFA
Mission Saints Sergius and Bacchus
www.missionstsergius.org
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EverlastingLoveOfChristMinistry
The readings for Sunday have, it seems to me, a very important message for all who claim to be Christians and followers of Christ to consider. One of the most important is found in the message of the Psalm and it affirms the truth about Almighty God that He listens to us and answers our prayers. If we put our lives in God’s hands, He will protect us and make our lives safe for us. There is, of course, one condition and that is we have to live according to how God, through Christ’s teachings and the commandments has instructed us.
I love you, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies. For I have kept the ways of the LORD; I have not done evil by turning from my God. (Psalm 18)
A second and even more powerful message is that by placing our measure of wealth in material things we are leading ourselves to possible destruction. The message found in James 5 is crystal clear, on a couple of points. One concerns how one has gained their earthly wealth. If you have accumulated profit at the expense of others by not paying a just wage, that profit will be like a fire that consumes you. It also places blame on those who live for only the material on many of the troubles that are plaguing the world today.
Now an answer for the rich. Start crying; weep for the miseries that are coming to you. You stored up as your treasure for the last days a burning fire. Laborers mowed your fields, and you cheated them – listen to the wages that you kept back, calling out; realize that the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. On earth you have had a life of comfort and luxury; in the time of slaughter you went on eating to your heart’s content. It was you who condemned the innocent and killed them; (James 5).
A third message found in the readings concerns those who seem to feel that they are the appointed of God. That they and only their message is the correct path to God. When the apostles told Jesus they tried to stop people who were not of their group from prophesizing and performing miracles in the name of Almighty God Jesus said:
‘You must not stop him: no one who works a miracle in my name is likely to speak evil of me. Anyone who is not against us is for us. ‘If anyone gives you a cup of water to drink just because you belong to Christ, then I tell you solemnly, he will most certainly not lose his reward.’ anyone who is an obstacle to bring down one of these little ones who have faith, would be better thrown into the sea with a great millstone round his neck. (Mark 9)
Lastly, the reading from numbers has a very interesting and thought provoking idea for us to ponder upon. This concerns a supposition about what the world would be like if everyone was given the gift of prophesy by God. If only the whole people of the Lord were prophets, and the Lord gave his Spirit to them all!’(Numbers 11)
Just imagine it, every follower of God having the gift of prophesy. If that were actually the case, the world might not be so quick to declare war against other nations. People would be more likely to be concerned about the needs of the poor, hungry, aged, sick, and more likely to be more compassionate and less judgmental. People would realize that a pure love between two people is a good thing not to be disparaged and condemned.
As we contemplate these messages let us realize that throughout all of scripture God have directed us on the way to live and how we can gain everlasting life with Him. God expects us, no He put us here to live and do His work while we are here to gain the greatest wage and wealth of all. Everlasting life in His presence. We have been sent out into the vineyards to be the hands, feet, mouth and spirit of Almighty God and to actively wage the battle against the powers of darkness who are attempting to replace the infinite mercy, love, compassion of God with hatred, discrimination, violence and greed.
Let us offer up a prayer to God, giving ourselves over to Him so that the truth of the Psalm becomes our truth, The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.
Almighty God,
I give you my hands to do Your work;
I give you my feet to go Your way;
I give you my eyes to see as You do;
I give you my tongue to speak Your words;
I give you my mind that You may think in me;
I give you my spirit that You may pray in me;
Above all, I give you my heart that You may love in and through me all to whom I come in contact with each and every day.
I dedicate myself to doing Your will in all things and to become an instrument through which You might bring about peace and harmony to all your children here on earth. AMEN
Prayer by Fr. Robert Johnnene OFA © 1987