Acts 20: 28-38
At Miletus, Paul spoke to the presbyters of the Church of Ephesus:
“Keep watch over yourselves and over all the flock, of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God that he obtained with the blood of his own Son. I know that after I have gone, savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Some even from your own group will come distorting the truth in order to entice the disciples to follow them. Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to warn everyone with tears. And now I commend you to God and to the message of his grace, a message that is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all who are sanctified. I coveted no one’s silver or gold or clothing. You know for yourselves that I worked with my own hands to support myself and my companions. In all this I have given you an example that by such work we must support the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, for he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
When he had finished speaking, he knelt down with them all and prayed. There was much weeping among them all; they embraced Paul and kissed him, grieving especially because of what he had said, that they would not see him again. Then they brought him to the ship.
New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.
Serve Without Seeking a Reward
The book of Acts is such an adventure! The first disciples are traveling from place to place, establishing and supporting Christian communities, and then moving on. As he leaves the Ephesians, Paul urges the leaders to keep watch over the flock as true, generous shepherds, and warns them against false leaders. And how should the community know who is a good leader? A good leader should be like Paul, who mentions not his words but the way he has served others without asking for any reward.
In his Spiritual Exercises, St. Ignatius Loyola reminds us to reflect on God’s love using the same image: “love ought to be put more in deeds than in words.” Let us devote ourselves to showing God’s love to others in all that we do.
—Beth Franzosa is the Director of Adult Formation at Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Prayer
Lord, teach us to be generous.
Teach us to serve you as you deserve;
to give and not to count the cost,
to fight and not to heed the wounds,
to toil and not to seek for rest,
to labor and not to ask for any reward,
save that of knowing we do your will. Amen.
—Prayer for Generosity
Pray with the Pope
The Holy Father’s Monthly Prayer Intentions Brought to you by Apostleship of Prayer the first Friday of each month.