Jesus comes to us - 24th week Thursday 2017

When Jesus called Matthew he was sitting on his customs post collecting taxes. It’s almost the same approach with the fishermen – Peter, Andrew, James and John – Jesus came to them while they were at their boats fishing or mending their nets.  As we can see Jesus sought them out while they were practicing their professions, while they were in their work.

So also with us.  Jesus comes to us in our particular state and professions, with our unique and particular gifts.  These gifts would not be totally abandoned for the sake of the preaching.  Peter, Andrew, James and John would still be fishing from time to time.  Nothing is mentioned afterward of Matthew’s profession but the fact that he is made patron of accountants and was acknowledged as the writer of the first gospel, indicate that his gifts, his ability to read and write, which were rare on those days, were put to good use among the band of apostles and in the early church.  
My point is we can serve the Lord and the church in our own professions, in whatever we are good at, with our unique gifts and talents, and with our distinctive virtues even, humble these may be.  And thus we should not make our professions and work as reasons to delay the help that we can render to the body of Christ.  I have not yet met the movers of this parish but for sure they are offering the giftedness of their persons and profession for the community.  But I have met people who gather to clean this church every Monday with their distinctive virtues and humble service.  As it is written in the first reading grace is given to each one for the building up of the body of Christ. And so we “use it to serve one another as good stewards of God’s varied grace.”

In the mass the priest greets us the Lord be with you. It is a wish and a prayer that we will never stop seeking the Lord and serving him in whatever we do, wherever we are, in whomever we meet, in whatever state of life we are in – to never let an opportunity pass where we can serve the Lord.  We do not have to leave our professions behind like Matthew or the apostles but we can be apostles in our own way in whatever service we render to the body of Christ – exalted or lowly, noble or humble.  The Lord be with you – always seek the Lord so to serve him in whatever you do.