Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

I was so blessed to spend so much time with grandparents growing up.  In fact, you may have heard me quote my grandmother during announcements occasionally….and now Chuck even quotes her too!  

“Many hands make light work.” 

Of course, she was usually referring to house work…or yard work…or painting the house…or dishes after the whole clan was over for Thanksgiving.  But this was more than a technique to get everyone in the family to chip-in and help on big projects ….it was also how she lived her life.

For example, when I was younger, both parents worked and I would spend much of the summers camping with my grandparents.  Each summer started and ended with trips to Camp Cabrini on Memorial and Labor Day Weekends.  Camp Cabrini was a CYO Camp then and while I, along with my four cousins, were swimming, hiking, riding bikes, playing kick the can and catching frogs, my grandparents were working at the camp. 

My grandfather and the other men made repairs to the lodges, trails and dining hall benches; my grandmother along with the other women cleaned the cabins & kitchen, preparing the camp to open for the summer or close for the winter.

Over the years, I also remember them making sack lunches for St. Martin de Porres shelter once a month, taking care of the parish altar linens, ushering at Mass, helping out at the Catholic Seaman’s Club and so much more.  

There was never any lecturing or preaching…just quietly living lives of service and leading by example.  Servant Leadership at its best…a constant steady presence of service in my life that I am so grateful for to this day.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus and the disciples arrive in Capernaum and Jesus learns the disciples have been arguing about who is the greatest and most important.  He responds by telling them anyone who wishes to be great in the Kingdom of God, must humble themselves…and be a servant of all. 

To be a leader, one must be a servant. In order to follow Christ, one must be a servant.

Being a servant doesn’t necessarily mean, quitting your job and moving to Calcutta to work with the Missionaries of Charity or becoming a Maryknoll lay missioner like fellow parishioners Bill & Kathy Collins did…although that is really incredible!

Being a servant starts right here, in our everyday lives:

• We are servants in our homes, caring for our loved ones;
• We are servants at work, being patient, kind and compassionate with co-workers, clients, customers;
• And…we are servants in our community, here at Christ Our Hope.

There is so much need in this world and it can sometimes be overwhelming. 

What can I do?  Where do I start?  I am just one person.  Can I really make a difference?

But we can accomplish so much when we work together.  Japanese writer Ryunosuke Satoro said, “Individually, we are one drop; together, we are an ocean.” 

This is what we are doing with our celebration of Stewardship of Talent, we are bringing our individual gifts together and accomplishing great things.  

Our rapidly expanding Social Justice/Outreach committee is a great example of that.  From the Annual Volunteer Fair (that non-profits all over the city talk about) - to our new St. Vincent de Paul team - to the programs that support our neighbors upstairs at the Josephinum.  One person could not do all that…but together a lot of great things are happening!

And there is so much more….so today we would like to invite you to prayerfully consider how you would like to serve:

I know everyone has busy & full lives.  But whatever will fit in your life, there is an opportunity for you!

• If you are looking for a one-time event, there is the annual Volunteer Fair or you can sign-up to make and serve soup at an Advent or Lenten Soup Supper.
• If you’d like to share your specific technical skills we are really looking for people work with the Communications Committee: especially managing the website and helping with PR, graphic design, that sort of thing.  And I know there might be one or two Microsoft/Amazonians out there with those skills….
• If you are interested in a more regular commitment, you can sign-up to provide & serve Sunday Hospitality after Mass, be a liturgical minister or reach out to new parishioners.

And then there are our committees.  We are always looking for fresh voices to serve on the committees.

Last week, Fr. Paul discussed all the different opportunities at Christ Our Hope to serve.  Many of you filled out your Stewardship of Talent cards right away.  By Friday, we had received 96 completed cards!  Thank you!!

But I know others of you may be more like me and prefer time to think and pray about where you want to serve.  You should have received a card when you entered again today/tonight.  If you are ready, you can bring it forward and place it in the basket during the offertory.

If you still would like to check out where we need help, representatives from the various ministries will be out at the table after Mass and you can fill out your card there.

Or, you can bring it back next week if you need more time.

There are countless passages in the Gospel that call us to serve.  And while I know we are celebrating the last few days of summer - and December is still a few months away….when we talk about Stewardship of Talent and service, I can’t help but think of Mary when the Angel Gabriel came to visit her to tell her that she would give birth to the Messiah.  She was young, frightened and confused; she did not understand what God was asking of her. 

Today a 14 year old might answer, “Seriously?! Are you kidding me?”  And then they would tweet about it. 

Yet in the midst of the doubt, fear and confusion, she answered, “yes.”

What is your yes?   

Where will you serve?

Yes, there is so much to work to do….but..

“Many hands make light work.”

Shawna McMahon