What’s the greatest thing that we can achieve in life? To amass a fortune? Certainly not. To raise good kids? Be a good husband/wife/father/mother? To do lots of good works? Those are all important, but they are only part of the answer. St Paul has a thought on that in today’s first reading from Acts 20. More on that in a moment. For the Gospel today, we’re back in John 17, listening in as Jesus speaks to the Father at the Last Supper. He praises the Father for giving him the disciples who have kept his word.
Saul/Paul led an amazing life. He was well educated, respected, and moving up in the ranks of the Jews before his conversion. One may rightly think that he had done pretty darn well in life. And after his conversion he had seen and probably performed many miracles. He had led thousands to the faith. So is it puzzling to hear his words to the presbyters of the Church of Ephesus? “Yet I consider life of no importance to me, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to bear witness to the Gospel of God’s grace.”
No surprise at all, really. Because life outside of the mission that Christ has given each of us to accomplish is really meaningless. Everything else is just fluff. So it brings up a question today. If you knew that your life was going to end soon, what would you do? Would you try your hardest to “finish the course and the ministry that you received from the Lord Jesus?” I hope so. What is this ministry? Well, I can’t answer that for you specifically, but I think there are some common denominators. Tell those you love that you love them. Share with others how good God has been to you. Smile more. Hug often. These are the things that, as St. Paul says, “bear witness to the Gospel of God’s grace.” If you haven't been working toward this end, start today. This is the goal. Finish well.
Father, teach us what life is really about. Give us the grace to finish the course and ministry that we received from the Lord Jesus. Help us to be witnesses of your grace. Amen.
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As I drove to morning Mass at St. John the Evangelist in Viera (Melbourne), FL, I was listening to your radio broadcast and was inspired by your reflection of today of what it means in my life “to finish the course”.
After Mass I listened to your broadcast which at the time was focused on “The sisters of perpetual indulgence”. As I think of the portion of that segment which I heard, I question if Jesus’ commandment “to Love ….” was being considered. Instead of wanting to cast fire and brimstone on those who offend us, Jesus commands us to use prayer and peaceful response. How do we show others that we are following Jesus’ Way? Perhaps we need to be more vocal of our Faith and Hope and Love, as we stand in the market place and stadiums. How do we express our belief in Jesus if we only respond with un-Christian words and actions. Jesus calls us to follow His Way and to Trust in Him.