I enjoy volunteering; I’ve been a volunteer at numerous places for well over twenty years, including various activities here at St. Catherine’s. I especially like volunteering in roles that have a direct impact on people’s well-being, and I think most of us enjoy doing things that help others. If you think about it, the most important and rewarding thing you can do is help to bring someone to God. When I was active in the RCIA program here at St. Catherine’s, I was truly blessed to help several people on their journey. In today’s Gospel we see seventy-two people given a similar commission by Jesus. Fairly new converts themselves, I can easily imagine their excitement (and maybe their nervousness) at beginning a new challenge. In the long version of the Gospel, they return to Jesus full of excitement over all that they were able to accomplish; I know that feeling very well! Yet Jesus reigns them in a bit, reminding them that everything they accomplished was actually done by God through them…they were certainly willing instruments, but the true accomplishment was God’s. The same is true for all of us. We all have talents and skillsets that were given to us by God in order that we should use them to further His kingdom. It is perfectly fine to be excited about doing good works; I think if that is not the case there’s something wrong. But let us remember that the accomplishment is really God’s and give Him glory and thanks for what He’s accomplished through us. Reflection by parishioner, John Ceglarek