Jesus had one ministry focused around the reign of God consisting of six aspects. They were healing, exorcism, teaching, reconciling, being a peacemaker, and his liberating ministry. In today’s world I would consider these six separate ministries with considerable overlapping. It would be a challenge for anyone to follow in Jesus’ footsteps and do as an effective job in these areas as he so profoundly illustrated for the world to witness.
As a disciple of Jesus I do not think he would expect me to attempt any of the above without having the gifts to support them. I can participate with my gifts along with the entire community in our role as Disciples of Christ in the reign of God.
As a young man, who was raised a Catholic, attended a Catholic school, studied under the Baltimore Catechism and fell away from the church during a dark period of my life, I was a great candidate for conversion back to my faith about seven years ago. God slowly began working on me about the time my wife joined the Catholic Church and had myself as her sponsor. This forced me to stop back sliding and take my faith more seriously. The RCIA process was a spiritual awakening for me.
When my mother passed away a few years later, our Lord put the petal to the metal and healed my blindness, raised me from the dead, and led me to a book to read called the “Good Enough Catholic” “A Guide for the Perplexed”, by: Paul Wilkes. I picked this book up at the Church the day of my mom’s funeral and finished it within two days. It helped me realize the hunger in my soul, the spirituality that my mother instilled into me as a child, and my obligation to live my renewed baptismal vows that I took when my wife was baptized. My library has grown from Paul Wilkes book to over 200 books that have helped me develop my faith journey over the past few years with fire in my heart. I am sure my mother is working with Saint Peter to keep that fire burning.
The gifts that God gave me in life consist of being a good servant. It was mostly in the secular arena however I have always focused attention toward charity, volunteering and public service. With ongoing conversion in this faith journey I believe Jesus is forming my discipleship and building a loving relationship with me, through discernment that will continue to grow as I become more and more aware of my calling in service.
Jesus’ ministry described in the above basic ministries present a challenge to any lay person or minister of his gospel if they try to be all things to all people. I am always going to be a rookie when it comes to ministry because there is so much to learn and of course I have my secular job, and family that have been my calling. At 60 years old, I can look back with the mistakes I made in life, add the grace mixed into the gifts God gave me, and say today that I have met the challenge. If I follow the plan that God has provided me, utilize the talent in the Catholic community, and continue to discern his expectations, this venture will continue to be no challenge. Instead it will be a joyful experience to share for the balance of my time here on this planet and yours also, if you let God into your life. What do you think?
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