Today is the patronal feast of Presentation Ministries (PM). Today's Gospel passage resonates deeply for us. We at PM volunteer freely and receive no pay. God has given us many gifts and talents; in turn, we offer them to you without cost (see Mt 10:8). Because we want all to have the opportunity to receive our materials and services, whether or not they can afford them (see Is 55:1), we volunteer to work for Jesus. Often this has resulted in more conversions, and thus more work for us (Lk 19:26). Praise be to Jesus, Who allows all of us to share in His glorious work of conversion!
At PM, we are blessed with many brothers and sisters who work hard and produce a return for Jesus. However, not all those the Lord calls work hard for Him. Imagine an employee receiving training and salary and doing nothing for a year. At his year-end review with the boss, this employee tells the boss: "I didn't accomplish anything all year. But I took good care of my training manuals; I've stored them right in the front of my cabinet. Every day, I sat quietly at my desk, afraid that I might make a mistake and make you mad. You see, I know you hold your employees to high standards and I was afraid of failure."
Such an excuse is flimsy; the real excuse is: "Lord, I am afraid of You." Jesus says: "Fear is useless. What is needed is trust" (Mk 5:36). If you are afraid to work for Jesus, come to Him and confess that. The very desire to work for the Lord is a gift from Him (Phil 2:13), and He will gladly bestow this upon you. The Lord exhorts us: "Take courage...and work!" (Hg 2:4)
| PRAYER: | Father, help me to serve You with gladness (Ps 100:2). |
| PROMISE: | "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, He Who was, and Who is, and Who is to come!" –Rv 4:8 |
| PRAISE: | Anne and Joachim expressed their faith by presenting their daughter, Mary, to the Temple priests at age three to serve God. |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College