Discernment is the foundation of ministry. Doing as we are called to do, serving as God intends, doesn’t always fit comfortably into what we think is our life plan. Deliberate listening, prayerful focus, and active openness to where the Spirit is moving in our lives and in our world are actions that come with practice, time, and maturity. They are Christian life skills that come from reflecting on our history and tradition, engaging actively in our rituals, entering into sacramental moments, and seeking the graced moments that make up our faith journey. Finding ways to encourage discernment, and to build up our faith skills is a challenge in our busy lives. This issue of ML offers some ways of approaching these needs for reflection, moving toward discernment, and entering into authentic service.

In an unusual approach to formation, Andrea Molinari describes a role-playing process devised to bring to life the experiences of the early church. Tossing together “Romans & Christians,” Molinari brings generations together to act out church history. Understanding where we come from and the sacrifices made by those who have gone before us in faith is a critical part of discerning how best we can serve God. How we fit into that communion of saints is worth pondering, and Mary Amore offers focused meditation on the cup of life that draws us into that assembly. Presenting a method with various perspectives on how we share that cup, she uses a mystagogical method to explore and reflect on the experience of Eucharist. Philippe Bazin challenges us to be the compassionate presence of Christ, ministering fully to the single members of the church. Those who are unmarried, by divorce, by the death of a spouse, or by having never married, are a neglected population in the church. Worse, for those divorced, there is often active prejudice, and attitudes toward them may be misguided and awkward. Bazin suggests a Salesian approach in ministering to this population of single people as one model of serving them as God intends. Finally, I’ve collected some of my own insights into how we discern what it is that we are called to do in ministry. Our liturgy stands out in many ways as a primary symbol of how we are challenged to be sacrament to a world in need of constant signs of God’s presence and action. The liturgies of Holy Thursday in particular hold a wealth of imagery custom-made for reflecting on how we are to live and serve. If we have the courage to challenge ourselves to not just find our place at the table but rather take up basin and towel and do as our Lord has done, our hearts will lead us to humble service.

Every day in ministry is a day of choices and challenges. We struggle, sometimes, to balance the needs of those we serve with our own very real needs. We labor in a system that is often unjust and frequently painful, but we find reward in the times when our work is pure grace, glorious and spirit-filled. We choose to accept being chosen, with all the responsibility that comes with baptism. We know that although death has no more power over us, there are still storms and dark times along the way ahead. If we take the time, though, to listen well, to learn and reflect well, our discernment of that path will be more sound, and that path will then lead us closer to where God calls us to be. Despite obstacles, everyday frustrations, the clamor of a world seemingly intent on self-destruction, we simply have to make the choice to take the time to be attentive to the sounds, signs, and symbols that call out to us every day.

As we continue our year-long journey through the great commission, may we trust in the promise of Christ and, keeping in mind the coming of the reign, serve always as God intends.

Lord, you bless with words assuring:
“I am with you to the end.”
Faith and hope and love restoring,
may we serve as you intend
And, amid the cares that claim us,
hold in mind eternity:
With the Spirit’s gifts empower us
for the work of ministry. ML

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