There is a story told about Mother Teresa that might give anyone pause. it seems she was in line at the final judgment, waiting to be admitted to heaven. A man who thought of himself as a good Catholic was standing directly behind her. He was a little nervous to be in such company, but as he waited, he reviewed his life and found himself by and large a good person. Finally it was Mother Teresa's turn. When she approached God, the man heard God say: "Frankly Teresa, I expected you to do more!"

This is a parable, of course, but its point is not to say that we are all unworthy of heaven, but rather that we are totally dependent on God. Some of the church's greatest saints were known to proclaim their sinfulness, Mother Teresa among them. So where does that leave us? Smack in the arms of our Savior!

Both the Gospel and the Second Reading today make this perfectly clear. In his letter to early Christians, St. John says that he is writing to keep them from sin. "But" he says-and this is a big BUT--"if anyone should sin, we have Jesus Christ who stands before the Father as an offering for our sins."

In the Gospel, the risen Christ stands in the midst of his followers. This is his chance to denounce them for their cowardice, to lecture them on the meaning of true fidelity; to disown them for disowning him. But instead he says, "Peace be with you." At the sight of him they were "incredulous for sheer joy and wonder." He asked them to recall what had been written about him in the law of Moses and the prophets and psalms. Then he opened their minds to the understanding of the Scriptures.

When we take the time to reflect on the words of Scripture, especially the gospels, the message is clearly that we can count on Jesus to forgive our sins and weaknesses, but also to open our minds to understand the words of Scripture. What he asks in return is that we love and serve him through our love and service to others. "What you do for my little ones, you do for me."

St. Therese of Lisieux, who lived very differently from Mother Teresa, came to the conclusion that even in her "littleness" she was pleasing to God. She believed that when we know we are little, truly know it, only then do we understand our need for God. Even little things done in Jesus' name were great in. God's eyes. Mother Teresa understood this as well and never took personal credit for her good works.

God does not ask extraordinary things of most of us, but the litmus test of our belief might well be how we love and serve the "least ones" of Jesus. Therese did it in her cloister and Mother Teresa did it on the streets of Calcutta. How do we answer this call? First by loving and serving our families, by being honest and hardworking in the workplace, by being a good neighbor and friend, but also by reaching out to those in need, the "least" ones.

Today we once again ask your support for the Annual Bishop's Appeal. This is not a burden to be placed on you, but rather an opportunity to respond to the gospel. Recall that what Jesus asks of us is to love and serve him through our love and service to others. The ABA gives us the opportunity to feed the hungry, visit the sick, comfort the afflicted, lift up the broken hearted because our contributions are enabling our diocesan ministries to carry out these works. Most of us can't do them in person-as Mother Teresa did-but we can surely support the work of those who can. Whether you give or pledge a "little" or a "lot," let your gift be a true measure of what God has given you and of your Christian call to serve others.

When our turn comes to stand in line, let's hope that God will say, "Well done, good and faithful servant, enter the kingdom of heaven."