DISCIPLES 501
October 20, 2021
5:01pm in Church

SEEKERS 601
October 20, 2021
6:01pm in the Churchyard

Drinking with the Saints
October 22, 2021
6:30pm in the Churchyard

Today’s readings, with their focus on Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice, recall the readings of Holy Week.  The passage from Isiah we hear on Good Friday.  Today’s Gospel foreshadows Holy Thursday’s Gospel with Jesus telling his disciples that he came to serve, not to be served.

To be a disciple means being a servant of all, serving our neighbor to the extent that we can.  This is our mission.  And as I said in my Tuesday notes that mission must always begin in prayer. Guided by the Holy Spirit we will be able to do great things for the Lord.

The Spirit will guide us in opening our minds and hearts to seeing what we can do for others.  So, I’d ask you to join me at 5:01pm on Wednesday for a Holy Hour in Church to ask God to send his Spirit to lead us and guide us to build up God’s Kingdom here on Tybee.  And please, please, please, do everything you can to promote SEEKERS 601

SEEKERS 601 is a 10-session program on Wednesday evenings.  Each session starts with a common meal at 6:01pm in the Churchyard and includes a video and a discussion where one can talk through any thoughts or questions about God and life with people who are seeking to live a more meaningful life.  Think of a friend or family members who might be searching for a better “way” and invite them to come with you to Seekers 601 on October 20th. GROW:
What do we do best? Some of us might be math whizzes, others can send a golf ball exactly where we intend. How do we get there? Practice, natural talent, and a good coach or teacher. Following Jesus, though, is another matter entirely. As today’s readings remind us, we grow as Christians not by building ourselves up but by giving ourselves away. In Isaiah, we hear about the suffering servant who “did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” That suffering servant is Jesus, who admonishes the Apostles as they jostle for position as his right-hand man. Ultimately, the greatest among them will be “a slave of all,” Jesus reminds them. His words challenge us to put as much energy and prayer into finding ways to better serve others as we do other areas of our lives. We can look to Jesus, Mary, St. Joseph, and all the saints as role models.
GO: I bet most of us can think of a friend who seems like a natural “giver.” He shovels the neighbor’s walk without being asked. She sends flowers or a meal during a difficult time. Serving others can take so many forms, from a simple hug or phone call to volunteering at a soup kitchen. In today’s readings, Jesus invites us to bear witness to his sacrifice through humble service. It may not come naturally for all of us all the time, but that’s where God’s grace and the Holy Spirit come in. We can ask for the strength, creativity, flexibility – whatever we may lack – to recognize the needs around us and respond. Before we know it, our generosity will overflow and encourage others as they, too, seek to grow in Christian service.
ACTION: Watching the news or even scrolling your social-media feed can be overwhelming at times. Instead of tuning out, find a small way to help – through prayer, a donation to a Catholic organization, or a phone call or card to a friend going through a difficult time.