Enough

(Is 30:19-21, 23-26; Ps 147: 1-2, 3-4, 5-6; Mt 9:35-10:1, 5A, 6B)

As I was reflecting on today’s readings and toying with possible opening lines I might use in this post, the phone rang. It was a call from the Fraternal Order of something or other soliciting a donation in exchange for a car decal highlighting my support for their worthwhile cause. A half-hour later, the phone rang again. This time, it was a student from my former school who hoped I might be persuaded to give a little something to the tuition assistance fund to help those students who couldn’t afford to pay the full rate. Forty-five minutes later, the phone rang for a third time. It was yet another charitable entity asking if I knew how many meals my $25 could provide this holiday season and would I consider a tax-deductible contribution to fill a few of those hungry bellies?

Now, I am a big believer in signs and although I was slightly annoyed that everyone and their uncle was calling to put the bite on me, I firmly believe that God sent every one of those calls my way in order to drive home a point about today’s gospel. The need is great and the laborers are few, and although he doesn’t say so in the passage, I suspect money is in short supply as well. However, a first century phone drive is a little hard to organize without electricity, digital call centers and the chief invention of Alexander Graham Bell, but I digress.

When Jesus sent His apostles to labor in the fields of the Lord for a period of time, He knew that He was sending them on an impossible task. It’s during this season when my heart is so pressured to help the poor, needy, abandoned and troubled that I often feel the most helpless. Don’t get me wrong, I tithe throughout the year and support those entities that I am especially passionate about, but I feel like a Grinch when I can’t meet the myriad of needs that come my way in December. I may be able to help feed some of the hungry and clothe some of the naked I doubt I can put much of a dent in worldwide poverty. And because I wasn’t there the day Jesus was handing out super powers, I’m pretty sure we can rule out my ability to cure the sick, cast out demons and raise the dead.

In reading today’s scriptures, I imagine the people who call me probably feel the same way. After all, Jesus told His followers that some doors would be slammed in their faces. Some people wouldn’t want to listen, and that they may feel overwhelmed and discouraged. Still, they couldn’t give up. At some point they had to realize that they could not solve all of the world’s problems in a short span of time, but they had to have faith that they could do something with the gifts they had been given and believe it would be enough.

Christ doesn’t expect us to cure all of society’s ills. He knows our time, talent and treasure are finite resources and that we can’t starve ourselves in solidarity with the poor or give to the point of detriment, but he expects us to do something. He expects us to recognize that while we are here on Earth we are an extension of His love and whatever gifts he has given to us, we are to be good stewards of them. We must focus on what we are able to do, shake the dust off from what we could not accomplish and rest easy at night knowing that we tried to make a difference and that He will make it enough.