23rd Week in Ordinary Time: Monday 9th September 2019

When given a task by God what do we do? We can learn from St Paul what to do in the Colossians’ passage. He said, “I became the servant of the Church when God made me responsible for delivering God’s message to you …” (v 25) and went on to speak about  his happiness in suffering for the Colossians; how he had to  “struggle wearily on” (v 29) and “struggle hard.:” (v 1).

What was St Paul’s motivation in delivering God’s message to the Colossians? It was to reveal — the “mystery hidden for generations and centuries” (v 26);  “to show all the rich glory of this mystery” to the Gentiles, which is “Christ among you” (v 27). And further, it was to “thoroughly train everyone and instruct everyone to make them all perfect in Christ” (v 28) so that the Colossians will be bound together in love and their understanding “come to full development until they really know God’s secret in which all the jewels of wisdom and knowledge are hidden” (v 3).

How could St Paul do all this? He says, he was “helped only His (Christ’s) power driving me irresistibly” (v 29).

So, the next time you sense God calling you to do something — be ready to answer that call joyfully, and know that even though you may have to go through trials, you will not be left to your own resources, God’s power will be upon you, and what you are to do will bring immense benefit to others.

Lord, help me listen to Your voice and follow You.