June 2008         

This month we will continue our theme of human formation with a few words on accountability ... At death we will give an account to God concerning our entire life. Jesus sent the Apostles out two-by-two. Saint Francis sent the first friars out two-by-two in imitation of Christ. This was a system of accountability. A priest friend of mind recently told me that "Jesus sent them out in two's so that you always have someone around to tell you when you are getting weird!" Yes, sometimes our 3rd eye is blind (the ability to reflect on how I am being perceived).

Accountability is a great help in discerning your vocation. Regular confession and spiritual direction are practical practices in christian accountability. Being involved in some church group is also very helpful. We are our brother's keeper. Some men have enrolled in an internet angel program. These programs send an account of your internet use to a friend for accountability. No man is an island as they say ...

Wisdom quote: "Dear young people, service is a completely natural vocation, because human beings are by nature servants, not being masters of their own lives and being, in their turn, in need of the service of others. Service shows that we are free from the intrusiveness of our ego. It shows that we have a responsibility to other people. And service is possible for everyone, through gestures that seem small, but which are, in reality, great if they are animated by a sincere love. True servants are humble and know how to be 'useless' (cf. Lk 17:10). They do not seek egoistic benefits, but expend themselves for others, experiencing in the gift of themselves the joy of working for free" (JPII, 16 Oct 2002).