Sometimes I hate being in group assignment because I normally tend to talk too much. It cannot be help because I simply got things to share and talk. When we are put into groups and asked to start discussion or sharing, most people will be waiting for someone else to start first. So, there will be this awkward silent moments when you are waiting for me, I am waiting for you, they are waiting for someone else and in the end, more silence. Urrggh…I hate that. So, I will open my mouth and start talking.
In our Living The Word for a Purpose Driven Life session 5, we talk about Ministry. And I do have a lot of stories to share about how I got into the lector’s ministry. I cannot help it that my story is more dramatic than others because I really got warned that I should leave the ministry.
So, there I was in the last session where I seem to have something to contribute in every question. I am glad the whole session is going to be over soon. Otherwise, some may think I am too loud, too ‘know-it-all’ or even worst, boastful. (then again, boasting about my shortcomings and inadequacies and how faith in the Lord has pulled me through is not exactly a boastful boasting)
Home reflection
The ‘homework’ for this session is to read Philippians 2:1-7
3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Well, what have I to say about this reminder? I am in a few ministries in church, i.e. multimedia, choir and lector. In all, I am at the bottom-est of ranks because I know I am possibly the worst of the lot. I cannot sing, I cannot read and I struggled with order of the mass. But then, I got to start somewhere because I am not born to sing, read or be an expert in the intricacies of a Catholic mass. So, yeah, I am still pretty ’safe’ in terms of being the humble server as long as I am aware of my limitations and at the same time, work hard to improve. However, I wish some people will stay rooted in serving and not being so bossy. Arrggh..don’t even get me to start on that.
Timothy and Epaphroditus
27Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. 28Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety. 29Welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor men like him, 30because he almost died for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for the help you could not give me.
What can we learn from the above experience? To risk life and die for Christ? Hmmm….I don’t think I will ever come to that state if I am serving merrily in my cosy church. So, I won’t be able to connect with the ‘die for Christ’ part. However, if ever there is a dire situation where my Christian’s faith is challenge and I am given the choice of either dying or living, I think I will choose to be united with Christ. Or if I have less baggages, I think I will love to risk life to do something bizarre like those missionaries like St. Paul.
Question C
Why is it often difficult for us to show genuine concern for others and put their interests ahead of our own?
Human nature is such that we are selfish. Showing concern means a lot of work, going out of our way, spending our money and sometimes, not only we are not appreciated, we may be accused of seeking self glory or being overbearing.
Right now, I am reading St. Francis Assisi experiences from being a rich man’s son, a spoilt party goer to turning into a beggar. He had many encounters and struggled hard to leave his material world behind. Maybe if we can get the kind of ‘encounter of the third kind’ like St. Francis Assisi, we probably can leave our self behind and be the new self that Christ wants.
Thank God the session is ending….
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