Please prayer for the team, as we begin planning, that our ears and hearts be open to what God is calling us to at Youth on a Mission 2016... and if you want to start planning for yourself Youth on a Mission will be July 14-17, 2016 at Cal Maritime in Vallejo, CA.
I'm the type of person that's a busy body. My schedule is color coded and planned practically to the minute. Most days now seem to be very task-oriented and filled with answering emails, signing forms, attending meetings, returning voicemails, etc. I've always heard that it's bad for someone in ministry to be asked "How are you?" and have your first response be "busy." I've even heard the acronym, "Burdened Under Satan's Yolk." Sitting in Mass this past Sunday on Pentecost, I started to realize that the Spirit has been missing from my life lately. I've allowed the tasks from work to overtake my life and have been running on "spiritually empty." It's a little ironic that the work I'm doing is for Jesus, but at times, I've taken him out of the equation. I know there are a lot of people in ministry out there like me. However, it's not like we can just ignore the tasks that need to be accomplished and only be in prayer. Instead, I think we need to change our mindsets. We need to change our mindsets from a "work vs. worship" mentality to a "work as worship" mentality. Now when we answer those emails, let's remember who's behind them and take a moment to pray for them. When we're filling out forms to reserve rooms, let's remember the purpose that those rooms serve, which is to bring people closer to Christ. And in all things, let's really take the time to discern what the Spirit is calling us to do or how to respond. As Pope Francis has said, we must serve in our ministries joyfully. If we are serving and it becomes more of a burden than a privilege, it's time to re-examine our hearts, minds, and most likely even our schedules. I know it's easy to fall into the "work vs. worship" mentality and separate the two, but it takes a lot of strength and self-control not to fall into the trap. I ask that you please pray for me as I pray for you. Let's not forget, in ALL things, both big and small, in work and not in work, we do them for God's glory.
Ynez Lizarraga Associate Director of Youth Ministry Archdiocese of San Francisco Jesus said, "I have come to set the world ON FiRE So, the question remains, ARE YOU ON FiRE? |
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