I did the planting, Apollos the watering, but it was God that made the plants grow. 

...The planter and the waterer are all one, though each of us will be paid for his own work. For we are fellow-laborers for God

(1 Corinthians 3:6-9)

There is a story in the Southwest

about a series of Franciscan friars

who came to evangelize a pueblo

in what is now New Mexico.

As the first ones arrived,

and before they could

so much as explain their mission,

they were promptly put to death

by the unfriendly and suspicious Indians.

But more kept coming,

to the number of nine.

This set the Indians to thinking

that there must be

some rugged, driving force

that compelled these men

to come to them.

Finally, when the tenth man came

they heard him out

and embraced the Faith.

How many times

have we come to our assignments

as the tenth priest came to the Indians?

We too have appeared

on a scene that others

have prepared before us

and given their lives to.

We too have reaped harvests

that other men have planted.

It was others

who opened doors for us.

It was they who gained

respectful hearings for us.

Richly we have received

from the past;

richly must we

donate to the future.