Hidden Yet Powerful
by Mary Ann Halloran
A few years ago, in the week leading up to Christmas, our family and other members of the community went to the Lord's Food Bank in Juarez, Mexico. This Food Bank is one of the ministries of our community, and on this particular day was the Christmas party for the people we serve there.
It started with Mass celebrated by the Bishop of Juarez and was followed by lots of wonderful praise to God.
Then we walked over to the kitchen where we were to feed the people a Christmas lunch. There were many elderly present who were sick, blind, and lame, and also many children eager to enjoy a hot delicious meal.
Ellen, and my daughter, Rebekah, and I were asked to come into the kitchen to help other volunteers fill the plates with food. My job was to put a ladle of beans on each plate. Ellen's job was to serve turkey in broth. Other people were serving mashed potatoes, rice, and corn in an assembly-line fashion. Rebekah's job was to put a small plastic spoon on each plate. At first we joked with her saying, "Do you think you can handle that job?"
As I watched her put her spoons on the plates, I thought just how important that job was. It would have been very messy eating that plate of juicy food without a utensil.
As Rebekah faithfully placed the spoons, I thought of how often we want a glamorous job. But God often asks us to perform humble, simple tasks well. When we do that faithfully, it makes a difference. Mothers may grow weary of wiping their toddlers' noses for the 50th time, but boy does it make a difference in that child's life. Changing diapers can become old fast but that baby would suffer terribly if it was not done. The Virgin Mary performed these same tasks countless times.
Don't go running after big, glorious jobs. Do what is before you well and with joy. That would be very pleasing to God. It makes a difference. It may be hidden but that makes it all the more wonderful.
If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. 1 Corinthians 12:15
We are all important, no matter our jobs. We are each a unique member in God's family and as we perform our simple jobs well, the body of Christ makes a difference in the world.
Thank you, Rebekah, for performing your job so well. No one had to eat with their hands because of it. It was a good lesson for me.
God bless you all in the New Year!
Mary Ann / Mother Hen