Serve

The WORD today 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 mOther 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-

Ps

See related reflections:

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2020/03/servant-leader.html

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2015/03/help.html

March 03, 2021

2nd Week of Lent - Wednesday; St. Katharine Drexel

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FIRST READING

Jeremiah 18:18-20

The people of Judah and the citizens of Jerusalem said, “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.

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RESPONSORIAL PSALM

Psalm 31:5-6, 14, 15-16

R. (17b) Save me, O Lord, in your kindness. 

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.

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VERSE BEFORE THE GOSPEL

John 8:12

I am the light of the world, says the Lord; whoever follows me will have the light of life.

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GOSPEL

Matthew 20:17-28

As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, 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.”