SERVING THE RIGHT WAY

In the Gospel according to St. Luke, we read that, ‘Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted by much serving. And she went up to him and said, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me’. But the Lord answered her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her’ (cf Lk 10:38-42).

Beloved People of God, for our service to God to have its deserved merits, it must be on God’s terms. Our gifts to God must be total, wholehearted, purposeful, intentional, with no distractions and crowned with love. Our love for God must be true and without any pretences whatsoever. It needs no comparisons. It has to be as much as one can offer without basing it on what others do, give or offer. It needs to get to the point where like St Paul, we are able to say, ‘…brothers and sisters, now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh, I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body – that is, the Church – of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you…’ (cf Col. 1:24-28).

We pray to be able to listen attentively to the silent words, the quiet inner voice of Our Blessed Lord. We ask for the gift of discernment to be able to know and understand exactly what the Heart of Jesus needs at a particular point from us. We earnestly pray for the wisdom and the courage to follow up on what is right that His loving Heart needs and asks of us. May we be counted as the ones who have chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from us.

                                                                                          Fr. Ted