Flashback to Ministry Recollection Day. One of the contemplative questions was

“God, what do you want me to change?”

As ministry members slipped out of the room to find a quiet place for reflection, I stayed put in St Michael room.

Change? I just want to run away. Freedom from work. Freedom from responsibilities. Freedom from having to do anything. The rebel in me rears its defiant head.

Change? I just want to sleep. My eyes are tired. My limbs are tired. My whole body is tired. Did I hear someone snore? I grin. I’m not the only one that’s tired.

So sleeping or slipping away from everyone seems like an attractive thing to do. And then I recall this.

The late Fr Bouttaz came to preach to us 9-year-olds at Kellock Convent, “Do you sin when you sleep? No? So why don’t we sleep more? Not his exact words but you get what I mean. I was so taken aback by this question, I don’t think I heard the answer.

Perhaps he mentioned the sin of omission. Sins of omission are sins that leave undone the good or duties that we are obliged to.

I agree it is quite human to want to lepak as mentioned that day, that is, to chill, to relax. Why do more when you can do less?

So why join a ministry? Why add on more duties to your life?

Perhaps many of us have the wrong notion of what ministry is about. Sometimes we may feel that if we join a ministry and then we are laden with more responsibilities, more meetings, more work on our hands.

All the above is somewhat true. Don’t click away. There is a silver lining to all this.

 

Koinonia

I was intrigued by the word Koinonia that day in exploring what it means to be ministry. I had to look it up.

Koinonia is a Greek word that means fellowship, communion, or participation. St. Paul uses the term to designate the vital union of the faithful that arises from their union with Christ. The purpose of the Koinonia movement is to provide the opportunity for adults to:

  • Encounter Jesus Christ through an experience of Christian Community;
  • Share the Gospel message, particularly that of Christ’s life, death and resurrection, so that each person may respond to the unique invitation of Christ to join with Him in deeper union or communion;
  • To form Christian Community as part of daily life.

So being in a Christian community is about sharing and helping each other grow in holiness. So if you feel that you may have stumbled into the wrong ministry, or unsure what your charism is, or feel that you are not given enough duties as a ministry member (because you are capable of contributing so much more and feel your talents are not being tapped), or that you are burdened with too many duties. Your true mission is beyond all these.

We are called in our Christian communities (and beyond) to be priest, prophet and king to each other. You are God’s ambassadors, speaking of His love and speaking up for Him. And yes, you are king too, a leader helping one another grow closer to God.

Change? Time to look at our faith differently. It is time for Faith Renewal, Exploration and Evangelisation. Yes, time to be FREE.

 

Shared by Karen R-Fong, a wannabe tai-tai who wants to retire in a library of books and to read with our Lord to her last days.