“Now you are Christ’s body, and individually parts of it” (1 Cor 12:27). Each part of our bodies has a specific purpose, a role to play in the success of the whole. In our second reading, St. Paul describes the importance of each part of the body. We need our eyes to see, our hands to work, our legs and feet to get us around, and so on. Because we are each a part of the Body of Christ, we in turn have our own individual part to play in carrying out Christ’s mission. The key is discovering God’s purpose for you and living it joyfully each day.
Prayer is a good place to start in finding (or rediscovering) your mission. Quiet time in front of the Blessed Sacrament or before or after Mass can help you tune out the noise of the world and focus on what God has to tell you. Ask Jesus to help you understand your role in His Body and reveal His purpose for you. As you pray, consider your talents and your strengths. God gave you these as gifts to help fulfill your mission. What are your passions? What sparks your joy? These are all clues to your purpose.
Our goal as a part of the Body of Christ is to carry out Jesus’s mission. Today’s Gospel sums it up. God sent Jesus “to bring glad tidings to the poor…to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free…” (Lk 4: 18). As the Body of Christ, we are each called to spread the Good News of Christ, to offer works of mercy in His name, and work to bring about the Kingdom of Christ by using the unique gifts God has given us. Let us do so joyfully!
Lord Jesus, help me discover Your mission for me and live it out with joy each day.