What is the driving force of doing ministry in the kingdom of God?
All of us do minister in the kingdom of God, but what is the
real intention and motivation of these ministries? Some preach the word of God
out of jealousy, pride while some others to defeat other ministries and have
personal fame. St. Paul’s letter to the Corinthians says ‘The love of Christ
urges me to do the ministry in the kingdom of God’ (2 Cor 5:14). The love of
Christ is the driving force of ministry and the glory of God is the aim of it.
The
driving force of Jesus in his ministry is given in Luke 4:14. There we read
that Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit before he came to his hometown to
preach. His fame went all around. There are three driving forces that urged
Jesus to do his ministry.
- Firstly it was the anointing of the Holy
Spirit (Luke 4:18).
- Secondly he was sent by the Father (Luke 4:18).
- Thirdly it was compassion and mercy that moved
Jesus.
People,
who are working in the ministry of Christ, should possess the mind of Christ
“Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of
others. Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 2:4-5) St.
Paul says that we know the mind of Christ, so, we do our ministry in the
kingdom of God with the mind of Christ. Let us examine our motivation,
intention of preaching and evangelization.
Everyone
is obliged to do some ministry in the kingdom of God. The following are the
possibilities:
- Apostolic ministry – ministry of the Bishops
- Priestly ministry- ministry through the
ministerial priesthood
- Ministry of the religious/ consecrated
- Preaching ministry
- Counseling ministry
- Intercession ministry
- Physical healing ministry
- Inner healing ministry
- Deliverance ministry
- Financial healing ministry
- Family healing ministry
- Volunteers-in Parishes, Retreat Centres,
Institutions etc
- Teachers of Catechism
- Organizers of Prayer Groups, Bible
Conventions, Retreats etc
- Service Ministry – in Old Age Home, Home For
Destitute, Health Centres, Food Distribution etc
- Music Ministry or Praise and Worship ministry
- Ministry of Testimony
- Promotional ministry – Promoting people to
attend retreats
- Media Ministry – through Literature, Audio,
Visual, Bible Distribution etc
- Tithing of time, talent and treasure
Everyone
who does ministry must have the intention and mind of Christ. Every minister
must be anointed as Jesus was anointed. All those who are anointed will
manifest charisms and the anointing is oriented towards ministries in the
kingdom of God. Primarily the charisms are for building up of the church and
secondly it is for helping an individual and thirdly to help the nation. Hence
charisms are manifestations of the anointing which are given to an individual
for the common good (CCCc 160). The chosen one, whom God has sanctified or set
apart, to work for his kingdom must receive these charisms as a gifts of the
Holy Spirit. Charisms are given to build up the mystical body of Christ, which
is the Church (Eph 4:12). Secondly every minister is sent by Jesus, as Jesus
was sent by the Father with full authority in heaven and on earth (Mt 28:
18-20). Thirdly every minister should have sincere love and compassion towards
others.
The
sufferings and tears of the people must be the driving force of our ministry.
And a minister always stands for the liberation, healing and wellness of the
people all over the world and for souls in purgatory.
God's children groan with pain (Rom 8:20-23), as long as they are in this world. They are under great suffering and the Church must set them free through her ministries. Through the ministry of the Church the glory of Christ has to manifest and increase the world over. Hence, I pray that none of us do this noble and genuine ministry of Christ only for the self - glory, fame, money or profit.
