God assigns each of us work to do

April 27, 2003 -- Second Sunday of Easter

	Bishop Robert Morneau
	Questions for reflection: 1. What work has the Lord given you to do? 2. How do you deal with second thoughts? 3. Do you make good use of your time?

Back in 1904, as President Theodore Roosevelt was campaigning for "re-election," he made the following comment: "It is a wonderful privilege to have been here [presidency] and to have been given the chance to do this work, and I should regard myself as having a small and mean mind if in the event of defeat I felt soured at not having had more, instead of being thankful for having had so much" (Edmund Morris' Theodore Rex, 331).

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God has given each of us a work to do and, regardless if the assignment runs one or 50 years, we should be filled with gratitude for the privilege of serving the Lord. But things tend to get in the way, things like fear, doubt and, yes, ingratitude. The disciples were given so much: a vocation, the gift of peace, friendship with Jesus. Yet they failed in courage and in faith. The risen Lord returned to them and breathed on them, giving them the gift of the Spirit and sending them forth to spread the good news. Through the forgiveness of sin they would continue Jesus' reconciling work and would make manifest the extravagant mercy of God.

What a privilege to be called to this ministry. Through baptism all of us are also sent forth to share the life of Christ given to us. Despite our fears and seasons of doubt, we can be confident that the Spirit is with us to overcome any and all obstacles to this evangelizing work. We should be thankful for "having had so much" love showered upon us.

There is another work associated with discipleship besides evangelization. It is tending to the necessities of life, of reaching out to those who are in need. Again, the author speaks of Roosevelt in these terms: "Behind his bluster, he could no longer deny the necessities of life -- work and wages and warmth -- to people as desperate as he once had been" (160).

The early Christian community, witnessing the resurrection of Jesus, was of one heart and mind and willing to share their goods with others. Following the teaching of Jesus, they reached out to the needy. They knew the importance of work and wages, of warmth and respect, of love and friendship. It was about community; it was about caring and sharing.

If fear and doubt could inhibit the disciples' call, there is yet another. "Second thoughts were like griefs; they inhibited the vital onrush of life, of the world's work" (Morris' Theodore Rex, 302). One gets the impression that St. John in today's second reading did not get caught up in second thoughts. There is in his instruction an onrush of life, a vital urgency to get on with the work of the Lord. That work is keeping the commandments; that work is conquering the world for Christ.

But this work is ultimately the work of the Spirit, the Spirit of truth and love. The challenge is to believe profoundly in the presence of this Spirit working through us. It is the Spirit's testimony and fruitfulness that we share in.

Roosevelt, the former Rough Rider, urged his men: "Don't fritter away your time . . . Be somebody, get action" (109). The disciples, locked in the upper room, were frittering away their time. The risen Lord broke into their lives and challenged them to "get action," to go forth proclaiming the good news.

(Bp. Morneau is the auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Green Bay.)