Great Servant

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/030315.cfm) reminds me that we should serve others to be great in the eyes of God.

When one thinks of greatness, a servant is usually the least we would think of. Greatness is usually associated with leaders, accomplishments and influence – far from our notion of a servant who does things for others. However, today God tells us how we can be great in His eyes.

Greatness in the eyes of God is serving others.

God used Jesus to do his work on earth, and he needs people to continue doing that. He needs people to share his love and concern for others. As Pope Francis advocates – mercy and compassion to others. God does not need us to accomplish great things, or to be leaders in our respective careers for him to consider us great. More than that, he needs us to do his work on earth.

Real greatness is founded on humility.

One of Jesus concrete instructions to his disciples is to serve others. He did this when he washed the feet of the disciples, which we commemorate at least every lent. Jesus, the great leader and Son of God, washed the feet of his disciples – a task given to only the lowest servants at that time, to show us what greatness really means and to inspire us to do this to others as well. We should not let worldly success get on our heads, and just be humble and remember who we are and who God is, and do what God is telling us to do.

May we be inspired and remember what greatness is in God’s eyes. Worldly success and greatness often depend on a lot of things and people, but being great in God’s eyes just depends on us. May we be willing to act.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another reminder of how you want me to live. Lord, I am sorry for being too focused on worldly greatness that I forget what your definition of greatness is. Sorry for wanting a lot of things for myself and forgetting what you want from me. Sorry for being too focused on my wants and dreams that I forget what is important for you. I humbly come to you, Lord. Purify my heart and make it more and more like you. Remove all the worldly ambitions and replace it with your love, that I may be able to share you to others, knowing in faith that as I do so, you will continue to provide for me and my family. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

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March 3, 2015

Tuesday of the Second Week of Lent

Lectionary: 231

Reading 1 Is 1:10, 16-20

Hear the word of the LORD,

princes of Sodom!

Listen to the instruction of our God,

people of Gomorrah!

Wash yourselves clean!

Put away your misdeeds from before my eyes;

cease doing evil; learn to do good.

Make justice your aim: redress the wronged,

hear the orphan’s plea, defend the widow.

Come now, let us set things right,

says the LORD:

Though your sins be like scarlet,

they may become white as snow;

Though they be crimson red,

they may become white as wool.

If you are willing, and obey,

you shall eat the good things of the land;

But if you refuse and resist,

the sword shall consume you:

for the mouth of the LORD has spoken!

Responsorial Psalm PS 50:8-9, 16bc-17, 21 and 23

R. (23b) To the upright I will show the saving power of God.

“Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you,

for your burnt offerings are before me always.

I take from your house no bullock,

no goats out of your fold.”

R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.

“Why do you recite my statutes,

and profess my covenant with your mouth,

Though you hate discipline

and cast my words behind you?”

R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.

“When you do these things, shall I be deaf to it?

Or do you think that I am like yourself?

I will correct you by drawing them up before your eyes.

He that offers praise as a sacrifice glorifies me;

and to him that goes the right way I will show the salvation of God.”

R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.

Verse Before the Gospel Ez 18:31

Cast away from you all the crimes you have committed, says the LORD,

and make for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit.

Gospel Mt 23:1-12

Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying,

“The scribes and the Pharisees

have taken their seat on the chair of Moses.

Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you,

but do not follow their example.

For they preach but they do not practice.

They tie up heavy burdens hard to carry

and lay them on people’s shoulders,

but they will not lift a finger to move them.

All their works are performed to be seen.

They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels.

They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues,

greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation ‘Rabbi.’

As for you, do not be called ‘Rabbi.’

You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers.

Call no one on earth your father;

you have but one Father in heaven.

Do not be called ‘Master’;

you have but one master, the Christ.

The greatest among you must be your servant.

Whoever exalts himself will be humbled;

but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”