The WORD
today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/031517.cfm)
reminds me that I should imitate God and serve others.
It is easy to say that we love
God. It is easy to say that we want to serve God. However, applying it in our
lives is another thing. We sometimes are not willing to concretely apply this
love for God through other people. We sometimes think that we love God and want
to serve God, but loving and serving people is different from loving and
serving God. However, it is not.
Hindi mo talaga mahal ang Diyos kung hindi mo kayang mahalin and
ibang tao. Love and service to God should be lived through other people.
In
the gospel, Jesus tells his disciples that they should serve others. God’s
kingdom is very different from the world. in this world, rulers and powerful
people are being served by others. That is probably why the. Other wanted her
sons to be at Jesus's right and left. And the others were offended because they
wanted to be great too. However, it is different in God's kingdom. In his
kingdom, it is actually the great ones who serve others. And if we want to be
great in God’s eyes we should serve others.
God
is not physically present in this world, but people are. There are people God
sends our way who need our love and service. They are God coming to us in
different forms. They are actually opportunities for us to prove that we
actually love God. Sometimes we think that God will make a way for others, that
God is mighty that he will send help to those in need. However, we sometimes do
not realize that maybe that someone is us. Maybe God is sending us. Maybe we are the ones he wants to use to help others. We
are and should be God’s arms and legs in this world – the physical
manifestations of his love.
However, this doesn’t mean
things will be easy if we decide to serve. In the first reading, we see
Jeremiah having challenges even as he serves God. It will be difficult. But God
knows what we are going through, and will continue to sustain us as we
experience challenges. We should take courage that God is the same from then
until now. he sees the difficulties we experience as we serve him. He sees the
pain and hurt that comes with service. He sees the sacrifices we make, and the
persecutions we experience as we serve him. And he will continue to equip us
and give us what we need to continue serving Him. We just need to trust in him
and have faith. We just need to call unto him as the psalmist reminds us.
May we realize that serving God
is serving others, and be steadfast with the challenges that come with it.
Father God,
Thank you for
today. Thank you for another day to live. thank you for another day to
experience your love. Thank you for another chance to love and serve you to
others. Lord, sorry for the times I fail to love and serve others. Sorry for
making excuses not to. Sorry for not living my profession of love and service
to you. help me be like Jesus. Help me live my love for you by loving and
serving other people. help me become more and more like you. And I ask that you
always equip me to love you and do your work. All this I ask in faith in the
mighty name of your Son Jesus through the intercession of Mama Mary. Amen.
Blessed
day!
In
Christ,
-g-
March 15, 2017
Wednesday of the Second Week of Lent
Lectionary: 232
Reading 1 Jer 18:18-20
"Come, let us contrive a plot against Jeremiah.
It will not mean the loss of instruction from the priests,
nor of counsel from the wise, nor of messages from the prophets.
And so, let us destroy him by his own tongue;
let us carefully note his every word."
Heed me, O LORD,
and listen to what my adversaries say.
Must good be repaid with evil
that they should dig a pit to take my life?
Remember that I stood before you
to speak in their behalf,
to turn away your wrath from them.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 31:5-6, 14, 15-16
You will free me from the snare they set for me,
for you are my refuge.
Into your hands I commend my spirit;
you will redeem me, O LORD, O faithful God.
R. Save me, O Lord, in your kindness.
I hear the whispers of the crowd, that frighten me from every side,
as they consult together against me, plotting to take my life.
R. Save me, O Lord, in your kindness.
But my trust is in you, O LORD;
I say, "You are my God."
In your hands is my destiny; rescue me
from the clutches of my enemies and my persecutors.
R. Save me, O Lord, in your kindness.
Verse Before the Gospel Jn 8:12
whoever follows me will have the light of life.
Gospel Mt 20:17-28
he took the Twelve disciples aside by themselves,
and said to them on the way,
"Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem,
and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests
and the scribes,
and they will condemn him to death,
and hand him over to the Gentiles
to be mocked and scourged and crucified,
and he will be raised on the third day."
Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee approached Jesus with her sons
and did him homage, wishing to ask him for something.
He said to her, "What do you wish?"
She answered him,
"Command that these two sons of mine sit,
one at your right and the other at your left, in your kingdom."
Jesus said in reply,
"You do not know what you are asking.
Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?"
They said to him, "We can."
He replied,
"My chalice you will indeed drink,
but to sit at my right and at my left,
this is not mine to give
but is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father."
When the ten heard this,
they became indignant at the two brothers.
But Jesus summoned them and said,
"You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them,
and the great ones make their authority over them felt.
But it shall not be so among you.
Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant;
whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave.
Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve
and to give his life as a ransom for many."
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