“And when it was day, he called his disciples; and he chose from them twelve, whom also he named apostles.”

On the Internet, we all have passwords and IDs to gain access to important sites. Have you ever wondered what your spiritual ID might be?

In today’s Gospel, Jesus descends from a mountaintop with a handpicked group of His followers, each one called aside by name. In fact, three of the apostles are given nicknames in keeping with their new identities. Simon is called Peter, which means “rock”, and James and John will become known as the “sons of thunder.”

In a scene reminiscent of Moses’ experience on Mount Sinai, the twelve men learn that they are to be the Lord’s new messengers. In this case, they are being sent forth as the twelve apostles to preach the good news, heal the sick and cast out demons.

While none of us can expect to be called in the same manner as the apostles, each of us has been called upon at one time or another to volunteer our time and talent. We all have been given a spiritual ID.

Chances are, you’ve swallowed your share of cold coffee from styrofoam cups while sitting through boring committee meetings. You’ve probably  participated in walkathons, phone banks, field trips and raffles that are actually corporal works of mercy.

When that next call comes you may be tempted to ask, ‘What kind of a time commitment are we talking about? Is this just a temporary job? How about job sharing? Will I get training? Who do I report to?’ Others might say, ‘I’m not interested in committee work. What about all my other commitments? There’s my job, my long daily commute, the kids’ extracurricular activities - - are you sure you have the right person?’

Those are legitimate questions. The harsh reality is that two income families with school age children simply do not have as much “free” time for volunteering as in the past. Those that do have some time available prefer short-term, sporadic or one-time volunteer jobs that fit their busy schedules. As a result, more volunteers are needed to get the same amount of work done.

Ironically, that leaves many people thinking that their small contribution of time and talent won’t be enough. The temptation is to do nothing. But, as Margaret Mead, the anthropologist, once noted:

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”

The good news is that lending a helping hand need not be a chore. For example, two of our friends just threw a party at their home to support a local food bank. The invitations asked guests to bring a grocery bag filled with food staples. Seventy-five party-goers responded and, at the end of the night, two stalls in the garage were overflowing with much needed food supplies. In another creative approach to community service, a local weight loss clinic  promised to deliver to a nearby food bank one pound of groceries for every pound that its members lost in the next month. Talk about doing well while doing good!

In the global village, volunteer opportunities are as close as your computer keyboard. To learn how you can make a difference in your area, visit www.voluntermatch.com