MISSION
OF OUR CHURCH
In recent
years and in our modern day, have you noticed something missing in political
campaign speeches? Candidates invariably talk about family values, concern for
the elderly, education, and poverty. They make huge promises, assuring our well
being. These campaigns of "promise making," aim almost exclusively at
our needs and desires. What is often missing is a call to service. We can think
of the famous quote from John Kennedy's 1961 inauguration, "And so, my
fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can
do for your country."
When the
only question is, "What's in it for me?", then we are usually
suffering from developing spiritually? Jesus pointed His eager disciples toward
the maturity of the person who has developed a heart to serve. This weekend is
World Mission Sunday. We, as a Christian people, have a responsibility to serve
as Jesus did. To heal a broken world we, as a community of faith, should be
assisting the mission of the Universal Church in spreading the Gospel message
and feeding each other on God's Word. Now this does not happen automatically. I
just read recently about three stages we should ponder on. These stages can be
helpful as we strive to move towards a greater maturity, which in turn, will
strengthen us as we put it into action.
We begin
with the first stage of life. As infants and toddlers we are totally dependent
on others for nourishment. Without those who cared for us, we would have died.
This is also true spiritually. In our earliest years we were dependent on
others for the nutrition that developed our spirits. If we love, it is because
someone first loved us. If we become morally discerning - people of character -
it is because someone helped to build a trustworthy foundation in us. If we've
come to know our heavenly Father, it is because others have pointed us in that
direction.
Saints
James and John, the sons of Zebedee, had followed Jesus. However, it's obvious
that they misunderstood what He was about. They envisioned Jesus becoming a new
King David and they wanted to capitalize on their relationship with Him. They
said to Him, "Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask of
You" (Mk 10:35b). This statement alone is clear evidence of their
immaturity. Sadly, though, we often say essentially the same thing. We focus on
what our identity as Christians can do for us and we approach God primarily
when we want something for ourselves.
Following
the first stage begins the time in life when we begin to feed ourselves. This
starts as a very messy period. Food ends up everywhere except where it was
intended! Hand-to-mouth dexterity gradually improves and in adolescence it
becomes not only automatic, but also constant! So it is spiritually. Life
becomes more and more about one's own personal journey. We begin to assume some
responsibility for our own nature. We eventually decide for ourselves what,
among all the options in our environment, we will choose to feed our inner
life.
We see
James and John asking for top level positions in Jesus' coming Kingdom, and
they obviously handled it in a childish manner. Jesus said, "You do not
know what you are asking" (Mk 10:38). His patience with James and John
endured because He was sympathetic of their limited understanding. They did not
yet know the nature of the cup He would drink or of the destiny for which He
had been born. But they did see!
Finally,
there is a time in our lives when we must feed others. What a splendid
transition, when the one being nurtured becomes the nurturer! It is also a
critical development because the alternative is tragic to consider. It is
critical, physically and spiritually, lest we become stagnant or our hearts
become tight knots of selfishness; lest living becomes mere existing. We must
develop hearts that are willing to serve.
In this
world, Jesus warned us that the greatest people would appear to be those who
rule over others. In the Kingdom of God, however, the greatest are those who
serve others. "Whoever wishes to become great among you must be your
servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all"
(Mk 10:43 - 44). Jesus used Himself as an example. He was the Messiah, the Son
of Man, yet He came "not to be served but to serve, and to give His life
as a ransom for many" (Mk 10:45).
Spiritual
maturity means growing out of our passive voice, which means being served, into
an active voice that is heard in serving others. The call to serve, Jesus had
taught us, is a beckoning away from death to life. The greatest joy in the
world is reserved for the person who, like Jesus Christ, has a heart to serve
throughout the mission of our Universal Church.