A Partnership in Ministry

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 By Brother Gregory

 

Recently, a Companion asked me what she could do for New Skete. She was sorry that she lives so far away from the monastery, and she felt that she was not doing enough. My response to her question was this: What can the Monks and Nuns of New Skete do for her? It was very clear in her conversation that she cares about people and responds to their needs. With so much sadness and suffering in the world, the monastics have talked about feelings of depression and helplessness as to how to respond to national and world divisions and war. This Companion has no effect on what is going on in Gaza, the Ukraine, or even the political climate in our nation. I reminded her that little acts of kindness can go a long way in lifting someone’s spirit and helping another person to have a better day. It all begins with us individually and how we can have a profound influence on another person. Just a smile, a “Hello,” or a “Good Morning” can have a strong impact on another person, and a ripple affect might take place where the other person turns to others with simple acts of love and kindness. The Monks and Nuns of New Skete try to be a support to her and others in their ministry of Christian love. New Skete tries to be a foundation on which Companions and others stand firmly as they live out their lives, daily reflecting on what Jesus did in responding to pain and suffering. I love the scripture passage of the woman at the well, where Jesus talked with a Samaritan woman and had a strong and positive impact on her and her life. It was a spiritual and emotional miracle that Jesus performed for this woman, with words of kindness and love toward her. Jesus did not tear her down but lifted her up. The woman at the well was an outcast in her village, and she was probably used to others responding to her with unloving words. Jesus responded to her with love, and she was moved by his words.

 

The Monks and Nuns of New Skete share in the kindness and love that Companions show toward others. We share in the ministry of love that this Companion shows toward others. Together we can “move mountains,” working together in a ministry of love to those in need.

Together we can push back on all the sadness and evil in this world with faith and Christian love shown towards others. Simply put, New Skete supports this Companion in her ministry, and we are living in a better world because of her ministry of love given out to others. All of us are called to this same ministry of love by following Jesus’ example of love to those in need and to all humanity.

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