Access daily Mass readings, meditations and articles, as well as special resources, by becoming a subscriber or logging in. Subscribers: Please log in to view the Mass readings. Not a subscriber? Subscribe for only $12 (Save $4). . . . if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received. (Acts 20:24) Paul is sensing that the end is near. “Compelled by the Spirit,” he is on his way to Jerusalem, where he knows that hardships await him (Acts 20:22). As he bids farewell to his beloved brothers and sisters in Ephesus, he warns them that they will never see him again. They react by “weeping loudly” and throwing their arms around him before escorting him to his ship (20:37). Paul, too, must be sad to leave his friends. Yet he does not seem to fear for his life. His only concern is to complete the work that the Lord has given him, “to bear witness to the Gospel of God’s grace” (Acts 20:24). When he was arrested in Jerusalem and sent to Rome to be imprisoned and perhaps martyred, Paul knew that the work of preaching the gospel was yet unfinished. There were still so many people who needed to hear the good news! But he was prepared to hand over that work and entrust it to the Lord. Do you ever feel as if you have completed the work God has given you? Maybe not! Whether it’s raising a family, leading a Bible study, or caring for people on the margins, the work never ends; there is always more to do. Eventually, though, God makes it clear that you have “finished [your] course” (Acts 20:24). The time has come for you to let go and trust that he will send someone else to complete it, just as Paul had to do. Paul traveled tirelessly all over the world to share his faith, but the number of people he reached is small compared to the billions who profess faith in Christ today. It’s a legacy he could not have possibly foreseen. In the same way, you may not always see what fruit your labors have borne. You may even want to continue your work so that you can see more tangible fruit. But if God is calling you away from something that is close to your heart, be at peace. He is surely pleased with the work you have done. He will guide your next steps—and he will send other laborers into the harvest, just as he always has! “Lord, help me to recognize when my work is done and to trust that others will take my place.”Saint Charles Lwanga and Companions, Martyrs (Memorial)
DAILY MASS READINGS AVAILABLE WITH A SUBSCRIPTION
Daily Meditation: Acts 20:17-27
Psalm 68:10-11, 20-21
John 17:1-11