"too much?" (mk 6:3)
"When much has been given a man, much will be required of him. More will be asked of a man to whom more has been entrusted." —Luke 12:48
Jesus makes it very clear in today's Gospel reading that He expects His disciples to continue to bear ever-increasing fruit. "This sort of talk is hard to endure!" (Jn 6:60) Do we, as His disciples, find this divine expectation of "more" and "much" (Lk 12:48) to be "too much" for us? (Mk 6:3) "Does it shake your faith?" (Jn 6:61)
Or does Jesus' challenge prompt you to embrace His expectation of you, obey the Lord, receive the "still more" responsibilities, and get stretched and enlarged (see Acts 20:32) to become a more significant vessel for Him? (2 Tm 2:21) If so, you are allowing Jesus to do His will in and through you.
Are you willing to pay the price to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to the world? Are you willing to be entrusted with much, more, and still more? Jesus trusts you. Will you trust Him? Fr Al Lauer, founder and long-time author of One Bread, One Body, said near the end of his life, "The more I say 'No' to myself, the more I say 'Yes' to the Holy Spirit." Trust the Lord to keep pouring out the love and power of the Holy Spirit in your heart (Rm 5:5).
Prayer: Father, give me the enthusiasm and zeal of St. Anthony Mary Claret.
Promise: "Now, therefore, through the Church, God's manifold wisdom is made known." —Eph 3:10
Praise: St. Anthony evangelized in both Spain and Cuba.
Reference: (This teaching has been submitted by a member of our editorial team.)
Rescript: †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, May 3, 2018
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