GROW AS A DISCIPLE
I have struggled when doing work that feels unseen. Has anyone noticed that the floors were mopped today? Do my students care about the feedback I provide on their writing? Does my supervisor notice the extra time I put into my work? In today’s Gospel we hear John the Baptist announcing Jesus as “the Lamb of God.” John has been preparing for the coming of Christ and now that Jesus has arrived, his role is to step aside and encourage his followers to move their gaze toward Christ, the Messiah. Although we know John’s name and his faithfulness, it would have been easy for him to assume that his work would have been forgotten overshadowed by the signs and wonders of Christ himself. But in his humility, this is exactly what John seemingly wanted. His life and words were focused solely on proclaiming the coming of Christ. While I may have been tempted to say, “Please don’t forget about what I did,” John responded faithfully to God’s call to preach and prepare for Christ’s coming, without worry of receiving credit for his actions. And in our lives, too, what matters is not whether our work is appreciated or noticed, but whether our actions are in response to God’s call to holiness.
GO EVANGELIZE
Despite not knowing whether his work would extend for years or decades, John the Baptist continued to lead others toward repentance. He did not know the full scope of his role in the plan of salvation, but he trusted in the voice of God. Like John, we are called to persevere in faithfulness to the work that God has called us to do, right where we are. When we persevere in our faith, living according to the teachings of Christ and our vocation, we give witness to the truth that the God who called us is worthy of our trust
WITNESS
Consider the countless men and women who have gone before us who remained faithful to God’s call. Their lives bear witness to their trust in God, in big and in small ways, sometimes visible, but often hidden. What simple acts of faithfulness are you being called to persevere in today? Recommit to practicing faithfulness in the big – as well as mundane – aspects of daily living.
By The Faithful Disciple