Ministry can often be overwhelming, and many ministers lead to burnout. When we are not rooted in prayer and the promptings of the Holy Spirit, we can get burned out quickly! Ministry can be about production, numbers, and growth. We must always keep God’s call in our hearts throughout our ministry. The call must regularly examine why we are involved in ministry. We must remember that the Holy Spirit guides us, sometimes leading us to plant seeds of faith into the hearts of our people, and the season for growth and fruit-bearing comes much later. We put all our efforts into knowing there is no lost cause!

In the First Reading, we meet the prophet Ezekiel. The prophet is known as the Son of Man, an idiom attributed to Ezekiel as a prophet. God called Ezekiel to a particular task. Even in this mission, God did not leave the prophet alone. The Lord set him on his feet, the Spirit entered his heart, and he went to minister to rebellious Israelites. The prophet ministered to them, and they recognized the Lord’s presence in their midst. He was steadfast in his call, in his vocation. This pericope leaves out verse 6, where Yahweh tells the prophet, “Do not fear them or their words. Do not fear, even though there are briers or thorns, and you sit among scorpions.” The prophet’s words were the psalmist’s words, “Our eyes are fixed on the Lord, pleading for his mercy.” Ezekiel models perseverance among rebellious people because he recognizes that God calls him and trusts that God will not abandon him.

Saint Paul’s life is a powerful reminder of the struggle we all face in ministry work. In Corinth, Paul experienced a thorn in the flesh. Yet, he did not let this deter him. Instead, Paul boasted about his weakness, finding contentment in hardship and persecution because, in his weakness, he knew the power of God. Christ was enough for him. His task was straightforward. Paul announced the crucified and risen Christ to all he encountered on his journey. His unwavering faith and strength in his weakness should inspire us all in our ministry.

All these figures in today’s readings remind us that we have a great commission! No place or people is outside God’s reach, separated from God’s love and mercy. In the Rule of Saint Benedict, we read “how the Lord in his love shows us the way of life.” Our good deeds become the navigation that allows us to “run” to his kingdom (Prologue 21-22)!

No one is insignificant to God in our ministry work. We are to be Jesus’ heart and mercy. We trust that even if we are weak, God is our strength. Trust, go, and listen!