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Participation in the Mission

Participation in the Mission. The Loaves and Fishes. “Give them food yourselves” “… five loaves and two fishes are all we have…” What were the disciples thinking at this point? “What we have couldn’t be enough to feed all of these people” We can’t give up what little we have” Scarcity.

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Participation in the Mission

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  1. Participation in the Mission

  2. The Loaves and Fishes • “Give them food yourselves” • “… five loaves and two fishes are all we have…” • What were the disciples thinking at this point? • “What we have couldn’t be enough to feed all of these people” • We can’t give up what little we have” • Scarcity. • Jesus takes what they have and makes it enough.

  3. Jesus….. The disciples….. • Had to risk. They needed to tell Jesus what they had. And they had to offer that. • Had to ensure. He had to make them see that what they had to offer was, through him, enough.

  4. Why this story when talking about mission? • Often I find that people feel that what they have to offer is not enough. • I think our role is to make them see that what they have to offer and combined with what others offer is enough.

  5. Fr. Chaminade • “We hope to change the world indirectly, by attracting members and changing them.”

  6. What does this call us to do? • Invite involvement, find concrete ways to increase investment, keep integrating the mission into different aspects of school life. • Celebrate the moments when the mission is realized. • Celebrate intentional commitment to the mission when it happens.

  7. The Wedding Feast of Cana • How did those water jugs get filled? • Each held 20-30 gallons • The people would have either had to take the jugs to the water source or brought the water from the source to where the jugs were. • Any way that it happened (and it DID happen) it involved a number of people. • Cooperation

  8. Who are we supposed to attract? • Students • Teachers and Staff • Parents • Alums • Donors • Board Members

  9. Fr. Chaminade • “Let Christians form themselves in community and from their midst, they will shine forth as a sort of light which will make them the object of general attention. The individual will not necessarily be anything in these assemblies; it is the assemblies themselves which excite admiration.”

  10. How do we encourage the formation of such communities? • Begin with natural groupings. Schools are great places for natural groupings—departments, houses, classes, parent groups, alumni groups, etc. • Encourage these groups to find purpose, direction, and ways of formation that are consistent with the mission. • Provide times for gathering—often and in authentic, life-giving ways.

  11. Abundance or Scarcity? • Are my gifts abundant enough to make a difference or are they too scarce to matter? It is a matter of perspective! • In isolation we may not think that our gifts are useful, warranted, important enough, etc. • But in community, our gifts become part of something bigger.

  12. Role of Leadership • “When the best leader's work is done the people say, ‘We did it ourselves!’” -Lao Tsu

  13. Some Moments to Reflect • Pick one person or a specific group of persons (a department, a working group, etc) that you work with directly. In what ways can you see the gifts of the individual/group contributing to the mission? • How can you help them to see her/his/their contributions as part of the larger mission? • In what ways can you invite them to further understanding of/commitment to the mission?

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