It is up to you

One of the difficulties of leadership is when people point fingers. They should do it. They should hear this. They should offer more. Leaders rarely hear people offering themselves. In the Church it sounds like, “I hope they heard your sermon today, Father.” It’s not about them.

BRETHREN, when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the Holy Place, taking not the blood of goats and calves but his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the sprinkling of defiled persons with the blood of goats and bulls and with the ashes of a heifer sanctifies for the purification of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify your conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

Hebrews 9.11-14

As we continue our celebration of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple, Saint Paul reminds us that God didn’t point to others to do the work. He did it Himself. He “offered Himself” rather than leaving it up to the priests and people.

For centuries the ‘system’ as designed by God had the people turning to God through the prayers and work of the priests in the Temple. The people offered the blood of animals as gifts to God for their sins and their gratitude. This was all just a preparation for Christ.

Once Christ came, He called all of us to work, not just the priests. The priests continue to pray and lead the worship of the Church, but because of Christ we each have a roll to play. Following Christ’s example, we must offer ourselves for the salvation of the world, not others.

The Church is made up of clergy AND laity. One cannot exist without the other. So today I ask you. What are YOU doing for Christ’s work and the mission of the Church? Instead of wanting others to hear the sermon, and respond, it is time YOU heard the sermon and responded.

It is no longer sufficient to talk about the work of others. It is time to ask ourselves what we are offering to the salvation work of Christ and the Church. Maybe we can’t lead worship, but there is much more work to do than just lead worship. Christ’s ministry extends beyond the walls.

It isn’t that we ignore others. It is that we must begin to work for others and the Church if we want to be like Christ. We must offer ourselves. Our work takes many different forms. The important thing is that our work further the mission of Christ and His Church, not ourselves.

Not everyone can be on the building committee. Not everyone can be greeters at Liturgy. We need faithful teachers, in the Church and in society. Remember the work of the Christ extends beyond the walls of the Church. Our work extends beyond our parish family.

Our work begins when we leave the Church after the Liturgy. Do our coworkers see Christian behavior from us at work? Do our neighbors hear Christian words coming out of our mouths when we talk? Do our friends know us as Christians or just drinking buddies?

There is a lot of work remaining for the salvation of the world. Christ began that work when He called us each to ministry. He will complete it when He returns. It is up to us, it is up to you, to do the work of Christ and His Church until He returns. Let’s all get to work!