Saint Paul offers us some advice and encouragement in today’s first reading. “Neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but God gives the increase.” This resonates with an old adage, “Do your best and trust God for the rest.”

We who are called to ministry, whether ordained, vowed, or lay persons responding to their Baptismal call and their nourishment of the Eucharist, are called to preach the Word, instruct others in the faith, bring hope to those in despair, reach out to those isolated, alone and lonely, to work for justice and to feed, clothe, shelter those in need. This is a heavy burden, and we know that whatever we do, whatever sermon we preach, how well we evangelize children, how strongly we advocate for justice, how vigorous our efforts to give refugees welcome, how many of the poor we feed, house and clothe, our work is always “not enough.” We live in an imperfect world where sin and evil battle against the best efforts of virtue.

But as Paul reminds us, we are not the masters or mistresses of the harvest. Our ministry helps to plant the seed of faith and nourish the growing sense of faith in those with whom we minister, but the Lord of the harvest has been working in and through us and brings all to completion. God’s grace and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit have worked in us and in the hearts of those to whom we minister to spark and fan flames.

But that does not let us off the hook. We are still asked to do our best in our ministry with great trust and faith in God to complete what we have done.

Let Us Pray:

Jesus, you called us and empowered us with your grace to be your witnesses in the time and place we find ourselves. Give us an abundance of your grace to do all that we can to make you better known and loved. We trust that you will take our efforts and perfect them for your greater glory and the advancement of your Reign here on earth. Amen.