On the wall of one of the corridors in my Jesuit community we have the pictures and names of most of the Jesuits of my province who have died in the past 80-90 years, and I pass those pictures just about every day. I have come to realize that these men sought to serve God and did so in many ways that history will not remember; as a matter of fact, I do not even recognize the very names of many of these men. I doubt that it is that much different in families once we get past two or three generations: we pass on and are forgotten. Does it matter?
Likewise, we know only the barest of facts about the majority of the apostles whom Jesus names here, and that very poverty of knowledge might be of comfort to us in the lack of recognition we receive.
In order to serve God well, do I need to stand out, to go down in history, or to somehow merit a place in human memory? Do I even need others in my daily life to recognize me as a leader or a saint?
Or do I just need to do my simple, quiet, humble best for the Lord and let Him deal with my reward, whether it be fame or simple recognition --- or maybe even nothing apparent or clear? If my love and grateful service is what the Lord wants from me, He will give me the greatest of rewards and the only one that I should desire to seek, Himself in His total and glorious presence forever.
For the time being it is enough for me to know that He calls me to be his disciple, and I just have to follow Him as best I can, to do my best in total trust and fidelity to Him.
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Since its inception in 1997, Online Ministries has been blessed to have myriad members of the Creighton University community offer their personal reflections on the daily scripture readings.
