SATURDAY, THIRD WEEK OF EASTERTIDE
FEAST OF ST MARK, EVANGELIST
1 Pt 5: 5-14 Ps 89: 2-3, 6-7, 16-17 Mk 16: 15-20
SERVICE AS PARTICIPATION IN DIVINE LOVE
There is a vast difference between any Philanthropic activity or social work and authentic Christianity service. The uniqueness of the meaning of the word ‘service’ in Christian tradition can be best understood from an example from the life of Mother St. Teresa of Kolkata. One day mother Teresa was washing and bandaging the wounds of a leper. A foreigner who watched at the incident explaimed; “Even if someone gave me a million dollars, I will not do such a work.” Mother Teresa who heard these words quipped back, “Even if someone gives me millions dollars, I would not do it, but if I do it, because I see the face of Jesus in these little ones who suffer.” Christian service is an extension of Christ’s love for humanity now undertaken by a Christian. It flows from the heart of Christ for the poor and needy, and flows for the love of Christ from the heart by one who performs it. Therefore, service is not an isolated human activity, but, it has the touch of the divine. It is in fact a participation in the divine act of love for humanity undertaken with the love and grace imparted by the gift of the Holy Spirit. It is the touch of the divine that makes the act efficacious and transformative unlike any work based solely on human efforts.
In the first reading, St. Peter exhorts the elders of the church to serve the flock in their care with humility just as God would serve them in love. In the Gospel, Jesus commands his disciples to make this service as the expression of their proclamation adding that effectiveness of such activity would be noticed in their miraculous powers. Maybe it is worth pondering again: Is our mission in the Church, especially in India, where we run so many educational, health and social work centres are really undertaken as a participation in the divine work of Love? That depends on the intimacy and union one experiences with Christ Jesus and His love. Let our service flow with our union with God in Christ Jesus, through the gift of the Holy Spirit: efficacious and transforming.
Response: I will sing forever of your mercies, O Lord.
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