Our readings today are about something simple and important: are
about service. The first reading emphasizes God's care and comfort for his
people[1].
The Servant intercedes with God for the people, taking upon himself their wrong
doings and accepting the punishment their sins incur[2]…
Jesus is the one who stands before the Father for us. Then, the Letter to the
Hebrews notes that He Himself responded to the call from his Father to be a mediator for the people. And finally
the Gospel adds that those who wish to follow Christ must do so not by seeking
power and glory, but by seeking service[3].
As Christians we are all called to be like Jesus, called to
bring God to others and others to God. Certainly, bishops, priests and deacons
do not have the monopoly on bringing
Christ to others and others to Christ. For example, the first teachers of the
faith to children are the parents, not the parish priest. We all are obligated
as Christians to take the initiative of bringing Christ to heal a stressful
situation. If someone in your neighborhood is hurting, you have a
responsibility as a Christian to reach out to him or her.
When we exercise our Christianity, we are responding to the
call to be like Jesus. He was always concerned about the less fortunate, the
grieving, and the persecuted. He was compassionate and acted out of his
compassion. He came, according to
the last words of today’s Gospel, not to
be served but to serve, to give his life for the many, so we are called to be like Jesus. Of course we cannot take the
place of the Divine Mediator, but we are called to be like Him in the sense of
having a word of encouragement for the depressed, or for the woman who is suffering
the drama of divorce, or the young man who has problems with his or her sexuality,
and so on.
If we accepted our baptism seriously, then we took upon
ourselves a tremendous burden and yet at the same time it is light. Jesus said,
Take my yoke upon your shoulders and
learn from me for my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Well, our Lord helps
us bear the burden of Christianity, He helps us to be Christians, He helps us
mediate his presence for others, indeed He helps us accept our pains and
sorrows for others. He helps us to respond to his call of greatness through
service.
Providentially I am very proud to present my parish
community as an example. I don’t really want to mention names (God knows!) But
here in St. Vincent de Paul we have many people who serve others, I see it
every day: they serve God in the sick, in the kitchen, cleaning. These examples
have to move others to think about whether we are serving, or if we have a good
service attitude. The service is the best antidote for selfishness, for vanity,
for envy.
In short: the words of the Lord this Sunday are a clear
invitation to the service: whoever wishes to be first among you will be
the slave of all. Here in the parish always need helping hands.
Maybe today the Spirit is calling you to do something for
others. Please, think about it! ■
[1]
Is taken from the Fourth Servant Song from the second part of the Book of the
Prophet Isaiah. This section of
Isaiah, chapters 40 to 55.
[2] This was
written over 500 years before Jesus, yet it prophesied Christ's determination
to accept the cross.
[3]
Sunday 21st October 2012, 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time. Readings: Isaiah
53:10-11. Lord, let your mercy be on us,
as we place our trust in you. Ps 32(33):4-5, 18-20, 22. Hebrews 4:14-16.
Mark 10:35-45.
