RBWords

     The passage from the Gospel of Luke has a context that is important.  On the level of Jesus' life and teaching, his words are part of an instruction that takes place toward the end of his journey to Jerusalem.  He warns the disciples not to expect a special reward within the community for doing what they were supposed to do.  Later on, when the gospel was composed, the situation may have concerned what various disciples had accomplished and the recognition that they were expecting!  The model to follow, according to Jesus' teaching, was one of humble service with complete confidence in God's ability to accomplish the "kingdom."  St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, whose feast day is today, would be a good example.  I encourage my Beloved Congregation to read the online articles about her life.

     Everyone needs encouragement to remain faithful to a task or a cause.  However, when the motive for remaining faithful is the prospect of gain or recognition, then the task or cause is held hostage to ambition!   Furthermore, if members of the community show no initiative and do only what they are told to do, the task or cause will die because no director or superior can take care of everything.  As a religious superior myself, I depend strongly on the members of the community to do their assigned task day after day.  If I have to be there to tell them what to do or to praise them highly for each time they do what is a routine part of their responsibility, our task of living Dominican life would soon collapse.  Parents know this experience with getting kids to "do their chores."  The Gospel of Luke was addressed to a community that was enduring persecution and discouragement.  There was no time to be dealing with "prima donnas" and their egos!  The words of Mother Teresa of Calcutta are a constant inspiration to me:  "God has not called us to be successful.  God has called us to be faithful."  AMEN