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Doing
the Work of Christ
Fr.
George Smiga
John
14:1-12
23-24
April 2005
I
know a number of people who would say that today's gospel
is their favorite passage of scripture. It is indeed an attractive
image of Jesus as way to heaven, of Jesus going ahead of us
to prepare a place for us in his father's house. It is comforting
to know that our belief in Jesus, as the way the truth and
the life, is our means to eternal life. But if you listen
to the gospel carefully, it is clear that it asks more of
us than simply believing in Jesus. Jesus asks us not simply
to believe in His name but to do His works. He says, “Whoever
believes in me will do the works that I do.” So belief is
not sufficient in itself, it must be accompanied by the works
that Christ calls us to do.
Now
this is not to say that the works that we do in any way earn
heaven or our relationship with God. Such gifts are always
God's grace. But since such gifts have been given to us, it
is imperative for us to live in such a way that our work shows
God's love for us and our commitment to God. Believing is
essential, but we must also work in such a way that we manifest
God's goodness.
A
retired priest after a life long of ministry died and went
to heaven. About the same time a man who had worked his whole
life as a taxi cab driver died. The two of them arrived at
the heavenly gates at the same time. St. Peter addressed the
priest first, “Welcome father” he said, “we're glad to have
you here.” Then he gave the priest a clean white cotton gown
and a wooded halo, and said, “Father you'll be living in a
little cottage over by the train tracks. It's a bit noisy
but it's clean. You'll like it.” The priest was somewhat discouraged
about his accommodations in heaven so he decided to wait to
see what the taxi driver would receive. St. Peter turned to
the taxi driver with open arms, “Welcome we've been waiting
for you. We are delighted that you are here at last.” Then
he gave the taxi driver a silken white gown and a halo of
solid gold. “We are putting you in one of our best properties—a
thirty-room mansion on a 15 acre lot of prime heavenly real
estate.” The taxi driver was delighted and went off to his
heavenly abode. The priest decided to question St. Peter.
He said “St. Peter, is there some mistake? Should I not receive
a mansion too. I went to church every day and I preached the
word of God week in and week out.” St. Peter replied, “Sorry
father, your place in heaven is gauged by the results of your
work. When you preached, people slept. But when he drove,
everyone prayed!”
There
must be a connection between the work that we do and our following
of Christ. If our faith does not make some impact on the ordinary
things we do day in and day out it is doubtful whether that
faith is real. This is certainly the testimony of the scriptures.
The great figures of the scriptures often encounter God in
the midst of their work. Moses was a shepherd, and while tending
the sheep he encountered God in the burning bush. When Jesus
was born, the shepherds received the message of the angel
while they were tending their sheep. The first apostles were
fishermen and at their jobs when Christ came to call them.
Matthew had a government job and met Christ while he was collecting
taxes. Martha and Mary came to know and love Christ while
they did their work in the home.
We
should expect to encounter God in the midst of or work, and
we should work in such a way that it is obvious to others
that we are followers of Christ. After all, if we appear the
same as everyone else in our day to day activities, if our
faith does not some how set us apart, it is questionable how
real our faith is. So wherever we work, whether it is in an
office, whether our work now is going to school, whether our
work is caring for a home or driving a truck or working on
an assembly line or in a bank, wherever we work or whatever
job we have, we need to work in such a way that it manifests
that we are followers of Jesus.
Let
me give you three qualities that I think can help us do this:
integrity, compassion and witness.
Those
that follow Christ work with integrity. They do not cheat
on their algebra test or on their homework. They do not bend
the rules of the office to their own advantage. They do not
put others down to make themselves look good or to prime themselves
for a promotion. People know that their word can be trusted,
that they will make decisions based on the common good rather
than their selfish ambition. Those who follow Christ work
with integrity.
Those
who follow Christ also work with compassion. They are aware
of the people around them, whether the people in their home
or the people on their job. They are willing to take time
to listen to a child or to a spouse after a difficult day.
They pick up clues from their co-workers of some problem or
stress and let them know they are available for support. Those
who follow Christ work with compassion.
Those
who follow Christ are also willing to give witness to their
faith. They are willing to let others know that they are Catholic,
that they believe in Christ. This does not mean that they
try to push their faith on other people. It definitely means
that their faith is not something that they are trying to
hide. They are willing to find ways to let others know that
they believe in God and that they value that belief. This
can be done in simple ways such as using God language. When
talking to a co-worker and describing some good thing that
happened in life, those who follow Christ are willing to name
event as a “blessing from God.” They are willing to tell co-workers
who are going through a difficult time that they will say
a prayer for them. By acting in this way they witness that
they are believers and testify that Christ makes a difference
in their lives.
I
know that such witnessing is going on in this community. As
Alice and I register new parishioners so often they will share
with us they have come because someone at work was a good
person and told them about St. Noel. The witness that you
give by the way you live, by the words you use, makes a difference.
It identifies you as a follower of Christ.
Jesus
is the way the truth and the life. Our believing in him leads
us to eternal joy. But faith is not sufficient in itself.
It must be lived out in a way that it reflects God's love
in our lives. Those who are willing to live their lives with
integrity, with compassion, and a willingness to witness identify
themselves as true followers of Jesus. What will you do this
week to make it clear to others that you are a believer? What
will you do this week so that others might see God's love
in the work that you do?
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