Our time here on earth is short. In today’s first reading from 1 Peter 1, St. Peter quotes the prophet Isaiah – “All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flower of the field; the grass withers, and the flower wilts…” Since our time here is so short, how shall we best use it?
In the Gospel reading from Mark 10, the disciples get in a kerfuffle about who gets to sit at the right and left of Jesus in His kingdom. Jesus ends His answer with this: “Whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all. For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve…”
I’m blessed to know an awful lot of good Christian people. Every one of them has the heart of a servant. Truth be told, they all feel quite uncomfortable being served. We exercise our servant hearts in all areas of life. We care for our children, our parents, our family members. We serve people at work in our professional lives. And behind it all is service to God. This is truly the way of happiness. Albert Schweitzer said, “The only ones among you who will be truly happy are those who will have sought and found how to serve.” Because to serve is to imitate Christ.
Father, give us a servant’s heart, that we may imitate your Son and give our lives for others.
Amen.
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