I HAVE NOT COME TO BE SERVED, BUT TO SERVE!
Feast of St. Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr
My dear encountered couples:
I am afraid that when Jesus speaks of serving him, too many people get the wrong idea. They picture Jesus seated on a patio shielded from the glare of the sun by a multi-colored umbrella, while being served the finest of wines and delicacies. Everyone is doing his and her best to make sure he is comfortable and pampered. If you should ever see this, be assured, that isn’t Jesus you are looking at. It’s more likely to be yourself with Jesus concerned about your needs. For as he once said, “I have not come to be served, but to serve.”
Then what does Jesus mean when he says, “If anyone would serve me, let him follow me; where I am, there will my servant be. Anyone who serves me, the Father will honor?”
Remember when he also once said that whatever you do for others you do for him? Well, he wants you to look out for the needs of other people and help them when they want help. He wants you to acquire the habit of being concerned for others. He wants your character to be ingrained with love and care for other people. That is what Jesus did and still does for everyone. He wants you to do the same. And when you do, he wants you to know you are doing it for him. Any act of love done for anyone is done for Jesus Christ, done for God your Father.
From the moment you get up in the morning until you go to bed at night, all the good you do for your husband or wife, your children, your parents, your friends and enemies, all you do that is good is what Jesus means when he says you will be serving him, following him, being with him. It is for all of this that your Father will honor you.
