How can I make a difference?



Saint John the Baptist w/ the Infant Jesus--Pretty cool, huh?

Prayer for the Day

Lord Jesus, I pray that I can make a difference in someone else’s life today by pointing them to You through an example of prayer and sacrifice.

Reflection

How many times have we asked ourselves, “How can I make a difference in the world?”  It’s a good and noble question, but to most people I think “making a difference” really means “calling the shots”.  However “making a difference” is not about doing things for recognition, it’s about living in such a way that the things we do – no matter how few or many – are done in a sacred way.

This morning after Mass, on my way to work, I stopped at 7/11 to buy a Diet Coke and something for breakfast.  (I know what you’re thinking; “A Diet Coke for breakfast?”  Hey, you don’t really know me, so don’t judge—haven’t you been reading my blog lately?  Lol)  But I digress.  As I got out of the car, I looked on the ground and there was a broken roll of quarters.  I only saw the wrapper and a couple of quarters, but in today’s economy, why pass it up?  There was actually about $3.50 and I said, “Great, now I won’t have to use my ATM card!”  So I picked up my soda and donut and headed for the front counter.  There was an elderly woman asking the clerk if there would be a charge for using her ATM for a purchase of less than $1.  She explained that she just wanted to buy one banana that she could eat for breakfast on her way to the senior center, but she only had about two cents on her in cash.  I asked if I could buy the banana for her, explaining my luck at finding a sudden fortune out in the parking lot.  She and the clerk agreed I would pay for the fruit.  I asked her if there was anything else she needed, but she said, “No thanks and God bless you” to which I replied, “He always has!” and she went on her way.  Afterwards, I felt as though the whole incident from finding the quarters to helping the old lady had been a test given to me by the Holy Spirit to see if I would share my good fortune.  But at the time, I just felt it was right to step in and help a fellow human being who was having a bit of trouble. 

I was just in the right place at the right time—what a  coincidence, huh?  It brought to mind again my sister-in-law Wendy’s  experience.

Saint John the Baptist’s entire life was a testament to sacred living – his ministry, his speech, even his ascetic life in the desert. All of these worked together to do one thing – give him the credibility and passion to speak with authority about the coming of Jesus, the Christ – to promote the Messiah.

Even the circumstances of his birth and circumcision showed that John was no ordinary person. Had he desired it, he most likely could have garnered a large following for himself. He could even have competed with Jesus for followers. Instead, he promoted the coming of Jesus, preparing the way for Jesus’ triumphal entry into public ministry. And then, when the time was right, he simply got out of the way and let Jesus speak for Himself.

John the Baptist was a great saint, but more than doing great deeds, he earned his reputation by experiencing the presence of the Messiah, and inviting others to share that excitement. He pointed the way to Jesus.

We’ve all had those times where it just doesn’t seem like God is answering our prayers. We pray and pray and pray for him to heal a sick relative, give us the job we applied for, or to give us an "A" on that extremely difficult test we have to take. We have times where we hurt so much that we wonder if God is there. We have times when we feel so alone, we wonder if God is listening. We have times when we are so confused about where God is going with his plan that we wonder if we should believe anymore. Sometimes, we just want to run out into the streets and scream at God, asking why he has forsaken us.

But the fact of the matter is this: God does care. God’s plan for our life is so much bigger and more powerful than our mind can comprehend. Says the prophet Jeremiah, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you” (Jeremiah 1:5). Surely the God who formed us in the womb, who knows how many hairs are on our head, also knows the purpose for our pain. He is answering our prayers- just according to his plan, not ours.

Zechariah experienced years of unanswered prayers before he was gifted with a child. We are called to be like Zechariah. We must ask what we want, but pray for what is right. We must accept the way things are meant to be. There is a reason why we experience the pain, suffering, and anticipation, though it may not be clear. Even when we are feeling hurt, confused, and alone; when we question whether there is a God willing to intervene for us, we must trust that he will.

So when we feel we are in a spiritual rut, that our lives are just filled with mundane tasks, perhaps we could benefit by asking ourselves, “What is the most credible and authentic way that I can do that next task?”  Even something as mundane as stopping at a 7/11 to buy a Diet Coke can start us on the road to “making a difference.”