WEDNESDAY, TWENTY NINTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
Memorial of Saint John Paul II
Rom 6: 12-18 Ps 124: 1-8 Lk 12: 39-48
FROM SELF-WILL TO SELFLESS SERVICE
In today’s first reading, we see Paul using an illustration of a master and his slave to show how the believers do not depend on their own efforts for victory but on the Grace of God. Paul reminds us not to allow the members of our body to yield to worldly passions and pleasure, that is, not to permit our eyes to lust, our ears to listen to gossip or our tongues to give out falsehood; rather as free moral agents to be responsible for the use to which we put our members. That is to use our organs to live a righteous life based on the values of Christ and to serve Him alone who is our master.
The Gospel invites us to be faithful to the service to which God calls us. Peter asked Jesus whether his teaching about dedicated service was intended for the twelve disciples only, or for all his followers. Jesus’ answer was general enough to allow both possibilities; no one is excluded from the call to serve Christ with complete attention and watchfulness. The followers of Jesus must always be ready for whatever circumstances they encounter, for e.g. in our parishes, in our relations at work, in our families, in our communities. God wants us to contribute our time, energy and knowledge in a selfless manner. He calls us to serve without complaint or reservation lovingly, looking beyond our own comfort to the needs of others and the concerns of the Church.
Jesus says, “Everyone to whom much is given, of him much will be required.” He has given everything to us so that we might share with others what we have received. He graciously showers us with knowledge of his love and salvation as we give of ourselves. He does not insist that we work to exhaustion, but that we consecrate our lives, just as he did, to fulfill his Father will. When we renounce our self-directed ways and shoulder the yoke of his service, we will experience a fullness of life and peace which we could never achieve on our own. Today let this be our prayer too!
Response: Our help is in the name of the Lord.
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