I really think one of the greatest obstacles to progress in our spiritual lives is the thought that we have to do everything ourselves. That we have to be trained and recognized and that whatever it is that has to be done has to be done by us. After all, we are good enough, aren’t we? So why should we ask for help?
I think you can see where I’m going to go with this. But this leads to one or both of two things. First, if whatever it is does work out, it’s all about me. Aren’t I wonderful? Aren’t I great? Did you see what I did? But second, if it does not work out, it can make us think we aren’t good enough, we are a failure, and send us into frustration and depression and all sorts of bad behavior.
Very often, this kind of thinking it’s all on us and all about us makes us shy away from doing something we are called to do. How can I do something like that? I’m not good enough to accomplish that. Someone, anyone else is more qualified to do that than I am.
Look at the apostles. What a rag tag bunch they were. Who would ever have thought they were good enough to come together and do anything, let alone foster a fledgling Church and proclaim a new Gospel that a lot of people couldn’t bear to hear? Yet, Jesus knew them best, of course, and he saw the men he created for that very moment to do that very important task. And then, because they didn’t know everything and weren’t qualified to accomplish the task ahead of them, he gave them what they needed in pouring out the Holy Spirit on them.
It’s so clear in today’s Gospel reading: “He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick—no food, no sack, no money in their belts.” Because if they have everything they need, then they don’t need Jesus, they don’t need the Holy Spirit. So by going without, they have more than they could hope for. By being unqualified, they accomplish great things. Jesus makes it very clear today that that is the life of the disciple.
And that includes you and me, friends. We aren’t qualified to do all the things we are asked to do, and we don’t have everything we need. I remember when Bishop Conlon called me to tell me he wanted me to come here to Saint Mary’s. I was very aware that I didn’t have what I needed to be the pastor of such a large parish. But as I prayed about it, God reminded me that it wasn’t about me at all, and that he would give me what I need.
And he has been so faithful to that! Every single day, I am almost overwhelmed by how much of a blessing it was for me to come here. I look around at our marvelous volunteers, and I know I don’t deserve how wonderful they are to me. I meet you all as you come out of Mass, and I think how blessed I am that you took time out of your day to come pray and worship with me. I have what I need to be the pastor of this place because God knows what I need far better than I do, and he is faithful to giving me all that and more.
So I offer that to you today. Wherever you need to go in your life, whatever you are being called to do, put it in the hands of Jesus and follow that path. Trust that he will give you more than just some food, a sack, and money in your belts. Trust that he will give you everything you need and more, and trust that then you will be truly happy. Who knows what amazing deeds God has planned to do in us and through us, if we just trust in his faithfulness!