Closing the Deal

Have you ever been asked to complete what someone else had started?

I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor. - John 4:38

In today's Gospel, Jesus confuses his disciples.  When they offer him food, he tells them that he has food to eat that they don't know about, and then he tells them his food is to do the work of God.

It is in this context that he describes their work as completing what others before them have labored at, sowing the seeds of the harvest they are to reap.

I believe he is advising them to be conscious of the fact that they are part of a long series of efforts, and all they accomplish is not due to their contribution alone.

This is important for all of us to remember.  The work of those who came before us is crucial to our success, and yet how often to we credit those who laid the foundation on which we build?

We can easily get caught up in the jubilation of success, giving ourselves a pat on the back for the great job we did sealing the deal that others may have prepared the way for us to come along and close.

It is not that our contribution is diminished at all by what was done before.  All the work that goes into the deal is important, even those things that seem to fail or produce little.

Jesus reminds his disciples that they are humble servants, called to pick up where others have left off.  They are part of a continuum, as are all who come after them.

The harvest they are called to reap is still producing plenty and we are all called to join in the work.

So, when we are blessed with a success, in anything we do, we should remember that our contribution is not the only factor that led to this.  Nothing is ever achieved alone, but through the work of many.

Each of us plays our part, and if we are all working in concert with each other, we will achieve greatness, not just for ourselves, but for all.

Now, that said, we must get back to bashing each other on Facebook.

More to come...