Outrageous Service

Read this featured blog post by Pastor Tony Rea

Outrageous Service

BY PASTOR TONY REA | FEBRUARY 8, 2021

In a recent survey by Moneyning.com, an online financial savings and investment blog, 1,000 people were asked the question, “If you won a million dollars, what would you do with it?” Ever ponder that possibility or lie in bed at night dreaming about winning the lottery? We all know a million dollars is definitely not what it used to be, but even today, a cool million is still a considerable amount of money.


In response to the survey, there was a wide variety of proposals; however, the reply repeated most often was this: “With a million dollars, I would get rid of all of my debt, pay cash for a new car or boat, go on a cruise, share the wealth somewhat with my family members (not go overboard here), give a few dollars to charity, and then hire a financial advisor to invest whatever is left over.” Again, that was the most popular response, and truth be told most of us would probably follow suit. I mean, can you even imagine what a debt-free existence would look like… with money in the bank!


Well, back in the early 1800s, following the death of her parents, a poor little orphan girl by the name of Catherine McAuley lived in an extremely poverty-stricken area of Dublin, Ireland. As a young girl Catherine knew what it was like to go to bed hungry, oftentimes crying herself to sleep. Because of the lack of proper nourishment, medicine, and health care, during her teen years Catherine became very sick. As a result, she was unable to receive a proper education and had little chance of enjoying a promising future.


But then one day Catherine’s life changed dramatically. She was adopted; and Catherine went to live with a wealthy, childless couple. She was introduced to a very different social lifestyle; one she knew nothing about. Catherine became a woman of fashion and culture, lived in a luxurious mansion, wore designer clothes, and feasted on the finest foods available. For Catherine, it was a whole new world.


Several years passed, and one day Catherine learned that she was the sole heir of her adoptive parents’ estate. The inheritance was equivalent to one-million dollars; and back in the 19th century that kind of wealth would set her up for life. A million-dollar estate pretty much guaranteed she would never again lack or ever see another day of poverty… except Catherine had other plans.


She sold her mansion and purchased a rundown, old home in the heart of Dublin. She called it the “House of Mercy.” The original House of Mercy became a haven for the poor, the sick, the orphaned, uneducated, and unwanted people of her town. Catherine eventually gave away her entire inheritance, not a portion of it—all of it.


Soon the House of Mercy was overcrowded, and in 1831 Catherine and her little band of volunteers were instrumental in establishing an organization that would extend medical, educational, practical, and spiritual services to destitute people throughout Dublin and the surrounding towns.


But the story doesn’t end there. With the million-dollar fortune Catherine gave away, she created a worldwide ministry of helping and healing. Following her death in 1841, the original House of Mercy spread to the United States; and that one little house became an international institution known as the Sisters of Mercy. In 1976, Sisters of Mercy changed its name to just Mercy.


Mercy is the fifth largest healthcare system in the United States. It currently has 45 healthcare and specialty hospitals, along with 700 clinic and outpatient facilities. Mercy employs 44,000 medical staff workers with more than 2,100 contributing physicians.


During the month of February and extending through to the end of April, we will be studying the Gospel of Mark together on Sunday morning. I encourage you to follow along with us at cccsterling.org. In the Gospel of Mark, we see Jesus revealed as a servant. That’s right, a servant. Jesus, just like Catherine McAuley, lived to serve others. Think about that for a minute, Jesus the Son of God came from heaven to earth—to serve.


One of the passages of scripture that sums up the main theme of Mark’s gospel is found in Chapter 10.


Mark 10:43-45

Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many.


Philippians 2:3-4

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.