Our Work

1 Corinthians 12:4-11; John 21:15-17

This week, we take on the work of mission, or as Ford G’Segner preached at our recent Presbytery meeting, the work of “doing something for somebody else.” 

There is a lot of renewed interest in mission at the moment. Pope Francis is becoming something of a rock star by preaching and proclaiming a more outreach centered expression for the most monolithic, institutional form of the Church known to the world. He refuses to see the poor neglected. He refuses to accept the status quo of a global economy based on capitalism that by design brings winners and losers. He is making overtures to groups normally left out of conversations within the Church. That has caught the attention of younger people. It has caught the eye of those who see the world as a big place requiring lots of direct intervention by others. 

It also brings to light a side issue—when the Church becomes strident in reaching out to the world, there comes tension—a tension that can be felt within the Church itself. Are we doing enough? Why isn’t everybody out there on the streets? Are there political overtones to our service? Are those who serve the poor and needy more blessed than those who sit and pray or who take on a more supportive role? Are there strata of blessedness within the community founded on the love revealed in Jesus?

St. Paul met this challenge head on with his most argumentative congregation, the Corinthians. They obviously picked teams of the blessed within their ranks, for most of the two epistles we have are nothing but Paul playing referee between rival groups. Our passage this morning gives the Apostle’s final answer—

There are different gifts, but the same Spirit who gives them

So, look at us this morning. Have we gotten that message?

I think so—this year’s organizers of our mission work about to begin intentionally took the theme of “God’s Big Love” as their own guide. Rather than highlight just a few people doing very specific work, they have invited everyone here to find a place, to participate, and to know they are valued as they add to the whole project. Our leaders heard Paul’s admonition of looking deeply and seeing the incredible sweep of inspiration, imagination, and sheer creativity with which the Spirit flows in and through our congregation. So, we are offering blessing over folks good with tools—carpenters, electricians, painters, cabinet hangers, toters, lifters, and all sorts of physical labor. We are also offering blessing over folks able to give financially to pay for supplies, food, building materials, and so on—money makes our world go ‘round, even in service in Christ. We are also offering blessing over those who will teach, play with, and feed children, those small ones whom Jesus lifted up as the perfect model of the Kingdom. We are offering blessing on those who will chaperone and cart around young people as they explore a city and its work among the poorest of the poor. We are blessing those young people as they go, as well, praying hearts, minds, and spirits will be opened and touched by the God of compassion. We are offering blessing on those who will “pray without ceasing” for all involved, continually seeking the intercession, direction, and presence of our God with and for those engaged in service. In sum, we are blessing everybody here this morning because God’s love is so big and so creative that God has infinite ways of inspiring our response.

The bottom line, then, is to know that each one of us has the ability to “do something for somebody else,” answering the call of Christ any time, anywhere, as anyone we happen to be.

“Serve the Lord with gladness, enter his presence with thanksgiving!”