Sunday’s Readings: Isaiah 53:10-11, Hebrews 4:14-16, Mark 10:35-45
From the Pastor’s Desk… To Serve & Give One’s Life
The longing to be powerful is as ancient as the world. We ourselves experience it every day in the most commonplace situations, as in wanting to occupy the best or first place, in choosing the best of partners, in climbing up the ladder to a higher position at work – till we go so far as to fight for political power without a conscience, even destroying the adversary. At the root of the problem, there is always the terrible duality: an instinct for dominance and one’s ridiculous vanity.
Our own self-centeredness can infiltrate to such a point that we think we are someone special, and that we are of even more worth if we dominate other people; and if only the other person could be more brotherly! Isn’t this the question that is planted in one’s mind? If the other person would really change into being my brother: then I could overwhelm him with my dominance, even against his own person or his own goods? Couldn’t I also then speak poorly about him behind his back? Would he allow me to destroy his privacy?
For Christ, on the other hand, one is greater when he/she resigns their will to dominate others and learns to serve with a fraternal love. There are so many people around us that attract us, due to their generosity and their noble lives! One’s moral authority is born from within a heart that is in solidarity, is generous, and serves. They radiate a special authority; they need neither to threaten, to bribe, nor to flatter. Perhaps this is the most important secret of life and yet the most ignored. We live life more intensely, only when we give it away. One can only live when that person helps others to live.
What is He asking of us? The service that Christ asks of us is demanding, however it is immensely fruitful. This service implies a struggle to the death against one’s egoism and it is an exercise in humility; this is the hard part. Yet, it is also a productive service because it is our source of salvation. It is very easy for one to give something; and this happens to us also when it does not cost us anything, especially when we have an abundance. But honestly: who dares to give everything, and then to give one’s all to the others, until it hurts?
The idea alone of serving others, may scare many away. For others, it may attract them only to place themselves at the center of attention. It is an obligation of one’s conscience to assume a commitment of service.
We have to give what is alive in us: our happiness, our faith, our tenderness, our confidence, and the hope that sustains us and animates us up from within. To give one’s life in this way – is always a gesture that enriches, that helps us to live, that gives life to others, that redeems souls, and that liberates and saves people.
God bless you, Fr. Oscar
Sunday’s Readings: Deuteronomy 6:2-6; Psalms 18:2-3, 3-4, 47, 51; Hebrews 7:23-28; Mark 12:28-34 GOD’S LAWS God’s laws are not intended to burden or torment us. Instead they are guideposts that point us in the direction of good living. Accordingly, good living requires loving God and loving one another. We should not follow God’s laws out of…
Sunday’s Readings: Jeremiah 31:7-9; Psalms 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6; Hebrews 5:1-6; Mark 10:46-52 THE HOPE AND PROMISE OF REDEMPTION The prophet Jeremiah prophesies the end of the Babylonian exile. He describes how the weak and sorrowful people now return with joy. These are the scattered people of God: the blind and the lame, the mothers and…
Sunday’s Readings: Isaiah 53:10-11; Psalms 33:4-5, 18-19, 20, 22; Hebrews 4:14-16; Mark 10:35-45 TOO MUCH INFORMATION! There is a common expression: “Too much information!” We usually use it when people tell us details about their lives that we don’t want or need to know. Today, when James and John ask Jesus a simple question, making their…
Sunday’s Readings: Wisdom 7:7-11; Psalms 90:12-13, 14-15, 16-17; Hebrews 4:12-13; Mark 10:17-30 WORDS OF WISDOM The spirit of wisdom, as we discover in today’s first reading, comes to those who pray for her. Wisdom, like the word of God, carries a message of consolation as well as of great challenge. The Letter to the Hebrews tells…
Sunday’s Readings: Genesis 2:18-24; Psalms 128:1-2, 3, 4-5, 6; Hebrews 2:9-11; Mark 10:2-16 HE EMBRACED THEM AND BLESSED THEM Today Jesus stresses how children embody the reign of God. They are trusting and loving and have hearts that are open to love. They are joyful when they are made aware of God’s love for them, and…
Sunday’s Readings: Numbers 11:25-29; Psalms 19:8, 10, 12-13, 14; James 5:1-6; Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48 NOT AGAINST US Like Moses before him, Jesus corrects his disciples’ misunderstanding of the gift of the Spirit. They saw people who were not of their company casting out demons and doing other works such as Jesus had done. Jesus points…
Sunday’s Readings: Wisdom 2:12, 17-20; Psalms 54:3-4, 5, 6, 8; James 3:16-4:3; Mark 9:30-37 HOW DO WE TREAT THE MESSENGER? Let’s not be too hasty in defining who is “the wicked one” and who (namely us) is just! We are very quick to label others as evil, because we tend to label ourselves as good guys.…
Sunday’s Readings: Isaiah 50:5-9; Psalms 116:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9; James 2:14-18; Mark 8:27-35 LISTENING AND RESPONDING There are three interwoven themes in today’s readings: listening to God, faith vs. good works, and losing our life in order to find it. How are they related? The Suffering Servant of Isaiah undergoes much distress and ridicule, but is…