WE HAVE A MISSION
If we follow Jesus
Christ, we bind ourselves to His way.
We are all called for a special purpose or
mission, whether it is to our country, family, or church. And wherever we go we
need to share the gifts we have by serving others. It is all for God's glory
and the building up of His Kingdom. Jesus also had a mission to accomplish, and
He called disciples to join Him in proclaiming the coming of God's Kingdom. A
disciple of the Lord must be willing to part with anything that might stand in
the way of following Jesus freely and wholeheartedly.
Christ always appeals to the deepest longings
of the human heart, giving us the grace and strength to persevere in following
our heavenly Father's will and detaching ourselves from anything that might
keep us from following Him. Jesus Christ calls each of us, personally, to
follow Him as our Lord and Master. He invites us into a friendship of love,
trust, and commitment. The love of God frees us from becoming infatuated with
earthly things. Jesus promises that those who are willing to part with what is
most dear to them for His sake "will receive a hundred times as much and
will inherit eternal life" (Mt 19:29).
We don't exist alone on this earth, nor do we
live without meaningful commitments and obligations to others. We are called to
look at the big picture of bringing God's people together through a
relationship with Him and each other. If we follow Jesus Christ, we bind
ourselves to His way. However, if we emphasize our relationship to worldly
things, we are bound to those instead. St. Ignatius of Loyola's prayer can help
us grow closer to Christ Jesus and His mission: "Take, O Lord, and receive
my entire liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my whole will. All that I
am and all that I posses You have given me. I surrender it all to You to be disposed
of according to Your will. Give me only Your love and Your grace - with these I
will be rich enough and will desire nothing more."
Jesus answered him, "Follow Me" (Mt
19:21b).