Is It “Enough”?

O Lord, my heart is not proud, or haughty my eyes. I have not gone after things too great or marvels beyond me. Truly I have set my soul in silence and peace. Like a weaned child on its mother's breast, even so is my soul" (Psalm 131).

Over the past few weeks, several friends who live in other states have been dealing with various crises. We've exchanged lots of e-mail and phone calls, the occasional get well card and even financial assistance. At times, I have found myself feeling frustrated that I can’t do more for my friends from this distance. As one friend likes to say, “Sometimes you need someone ‘with skin on’ to comfort you.”

I am reminded of the friends who laid Jesus in the tomb after the crucifixion. It was preparation day for the Sabbath, and not just any Sabbath. It was the Sabbath of Passover, which ranks much higher in importance for an observant Jew. Sunset was near, and those few who had remained with Him throughout His passion and death had precious little time to perform the customary rituals. All they could do was wrap the body in burial cloths and seal the entrance to the tomb.

The Gospel of Luke tells us that the women in attendance, when they had seen the tomb and the way in which His body was laid in it, they returned and prepared spices and perfumed oils (Lk. 23:55-56). Clearly it was their intention to come back after the Sabbath was over in order to give their Lord a proper Jewish burial. In my meditations, I couldn’t help but wonder how those friends felt. Had they rendered themselves ritually impure by handling a dead body, even if it was the body of the Lord Himself? Did they feel frustrated or inadequate? Jesus had died for them, had freed them from their sins, had loved them unconditionally. He had given them dignity and an entirely new way of living. Now they found themselves unable to do for Him something as simple as washing and anointing His body, as was the normal custom.

This account illustrates a reality that is difficult for many people to accept; namely, that God is God and we are not. He is omnipotent; we are created beings with the inherent limitations of our "creature-ness." Whether or not we choose to acknowledge our place in the created order, it doesn’t alter the reality. Truth is unchanging and absolute.

Walking in the light of that Truth means accepting who we are, with both our gifts and our flaws. It also means trusting that God will make up whatever is lacking in us in order to accomplish His divine plan. Mother Teresa of Calcutta once said, “We are not called to be successful; we are called to be faithful.” The harvest is ripe, but the laborers are few (Lk 10:2). Let us, then, take up our share of the work. Let us be faithful to the promptings of God’s grace working within us. As long as we do that, we can be at peace and trust that it is “enough.”

Prayer Request:
For all those who labor for the Kingdom and wonder if their efforts are enough.

Prayer:
Lord, You are mighty God and Creator of all, yet You invite us to partake in the work of salvation. Help us to remember that You are with us always, leading and upholding us, as we work to bring about Your Kingdom here on earth. We pray in the name of Jesus, Our Lord. Amen.