How do you understand the "obligation," to use Paul's term, God has given you in your ministry? What is your purpose?

The Eucharistic liturgy summons those gathered to see the real presence of Christ and to go forth in love and service.

Job says life is hard. Anybody want to disagree with that? Life is hard when your work is servile and degrading, your nights sleepless, your days unhappy. Oh, and then you die. What a package deal mortality turns out to be!

Twentieth-century poet and Presbyterian clergyman Henry Van Dyke said of time: "Time is . . . too long for those who grieve, too short for those who rejoice, but for those who love--time is eternity." 

SAINT PAUL wrote of the "obligation" he felt to preach the gospel--that is, he was talking about his vocation.

A few weeks ago we celebrated the Feast of Light, Epiphany. Christ's light shines in our lives. We all have our problems and concerns. And sometimes they can wear us down just as Job was worn down. We forget that Jesus' healing presence is with us, that the gospel will give us what we need to get through the darkness.

We turn to you, Lord, who gathers and guides us in your wisdom.

Jesus ended a very long "first day" of his ministry in characteristic fashion: with healing and the determination to go forth, preach, and heal.

Saints who really live, who are greater than life, who no longer look at themselves guide us to God, who is at the core of our life, who is the only real experience that reveals humans to humans. --Maurice Zundel (1897-1975)