assistance please
"Mary called the Magdalene, from whom seven devils had gone out, Joanna, the wife of Herod's steward Chuza, Susanna, and many others...were assisting them out of their means." —Luke 8:2-3
Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Susanna, and many others assisted Jesus and the apostles out of their means. Many of you have assisted the Church out of your means. Many have assisted Presentation Ministries and One Bread, One Body out of your means.
Although the Church greatly needs assistance, and assistance can be a supernatural gift of the Spirit (1 Cor 12:28), the charism and ministry of assisting others out of our means is often unknown and unappreciated. Have you ever prayed for the spiritual gift of assisting others? Did you know that there was such a gift?
Although we may not often think of the gift of assistance, the Lord values it highly. On the morning of His resurrection, the risen Lord came first to one of His assistants, Mary Magdalene (Jn 20:14ff). The Lord may have been making a statement about the importance of assisting Him and His people.
Ask the Lord to make you like Mary Magdalene. Assist Jesus and the Church financially. Like Mary Magdalene, assist Jesus, even by suffering with Him at the foot of His cross (Jn 19:25). Like Mary Magdalene, throw yourself at the feet of the risen Christ. Assistance is so important because assistance is love. Assistance please.
Prayer: Father, may I die to self to assist Your people.
Promise: "Fight the good fight of faith. Take firm hold on the everlasting life to which you were called when, in the presence of many witnesses, you made your noble profession of faith." —1 Tm 6:12
Praise: Bishop Januarius took the risk of visiting several Christians who had been imprisoned for their faith in order to encourage them. He was captured and martyred. "There is no greater love than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends" (Jn 15:13).
Reference: (To assist the Church through Presentation Ministries, contact us for information about being one of our co- workers.)
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Robert L. Hagedorn, February 1, 1997
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, February 4, 1997