Ps 37:3-4.18,
Humble and True Christian Service
In the first reading, the Letter to Titus, St Paul specifies two ways of how believers should live the moral life that is worthy of their Christian calling; firstly, is living by and being consistent with the sound doctrine, and secondly, to live by the good example to others. It can be rightly called “The code of Christian Conduct” for all (Men and women, old and young). This is not only a Christian teaching but also a social teaching. Women must live and show the examples while teaching and passing on values, virtues and responsibilities to the young women and girls especially as concerns the family and similarly, the men must also do the same. It is a call to live devoutly while waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Along the same line of thought, the gospel reading reminds us of the need to carry out our Christian duties even without being reminded of them. We should not expect to be praised for living our Christian life the way we ought to live it.
Imagine the context in which this attitude toward Christian service must be spoken and lived. For example, imagine a mother who spends the day cleaning and then preparing the family meal. At the end of the day, it is certainly nice to be recognized for her hard work and to be thanked for it. Of course, when the family is grateful and acknowledges this loving service, this gratitude is healthy and is nothing other than an act of love. It is good to be grateful and to express it. But this passage is not so much about the fact that we must strive to be grateful for the love and service of others, rather, it’s about our own motivation for service. Our intention for service and charity should be to fulfill our duty to love God above all things and love our neighbors as ourselves (Mark 12:33). In this way, we will be “unprofitable servants.” We obtain the strength and willpower to do our duty when our goal is to love God with our whole heart. We do not serve for our own gain, but for God’s glory. Do you serve so as to be thanked? Or do you provide service because it is good and right to serve?
Jesus makes it clear that our Christian service to others, be it in the family or in some other context, must be primarily motivated by a certain duty of service. We must serve out of love regardless of the receptivity or acknowledgment of others. Imagine, then, if you spent your day in some service and that service was done out of your love of others. Then imagine that no one expressed gratitude for your work. Should that change your commitment to service? Should the reaction, or lack of reaction, of others deter you from serving as God wants you to serve? Certainly not. We must serve and fulfill our Christian duty simply because it is the right thing to do and because it is what God wants of us.
Reflect, today, upon your motivation for loving service to others. Try to speak these words of the Gospel within the context of your life. It may be hard at first, but if you can serve with the mind that you are an “unprofitable servant” and that you have done nothing more than what you were “obliged to do,” then you will find that your charity takes on a whole new depth.
Let us Pray
Lord, help me to serve freely and wholeheartedly out of love for You and others. Help me to give of myself regardless of the reaction of others and to find satisfaction in this act of love alone. Amen
Be blessed
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