As Christians we are called to
be of service to others because the One we seek to be with can be found
in the action of serving others. This is the heritage Jesus Christ left
us when he washed the feet of his disciples.
Service,
however, is not always easy. There may have been a very good reason
why Jesus performed this action for his disciples in the context of
what we now call the "Eucharistic Feast." Perhaps he knew
that we would need to encounter him in other "actions" so
as to be strengthened in our resolve to find him in the act of serving
others. Perhaps he knew that in order to find him in our Eucharistic
action we would need to go beyond an attitude of "What can I get
out of this?" to an attitude of actually serving others in their
quest to find the Master. Such service can be dramatic or even very
public as in the case of liturgical ministry. It is, however, important
for us to remember how such service can be accomplished by all, through
a willingness to lay aside personal agendas in favor of what the Church
is trying to do when it gathers for prayer.
It
is very difficult to know exactly what the Lord Jesus intended when
he performed the "action of service" for his disciples in
the context of the Last Supper. However, our inability to know the mind
of the Lord does not diminish the interdependence that exists between
the "action of service" and the Eucharistic action. It does
not diminish our need to enter into these two actions if we are to be
with the Risen Lord.
Prayer
Lord God, through your Son, you
have become part of serving others. Help me to lay aside my personal
agendas when I gather with fellow believers in celebrating the Eucharist
so that I may find him in the action of your Church. I ask this in the
name of Jesus, my Lord.
Remembrance
Today I will remember how important
it is for me, at times, to be willing to lay aside my personal agenda.
Taken from the
book Walking
in the Kingdom of God:
A Lenten Meditation for the Busy Christian
Published by Liturgical Press
Distributed by Claretian Publications, Philippines
Service, however, is not always easy. There may have been a very good reason why Jesus performed this action for his disciples in the context of what we now call the "Eucharistic Feast." Perhaps he knew that we would need to encounter him in other "actions" so as to be strengthened in our resolve to find him in the act of serving others. Perhaps he knew that in order to find him in our Eucharistic action we would need to go beyond an attitude of "What can I get out of this?" to an attitude of actually serving others in their quest to find the Master. Such service can be dramatic or even very public as in the case of liturgical ministry. It is, however, important for us to remember how such service can be accomplished by all, through a willingness to lay aside personal agendas in favor of what the Church is trying to do when it gathers for prayer.
It is very difficult to know exactly what the Lord Jesus intended when he performed the "action of service" for his disciples in the context of the Last Supper. However, our inability to know the mind of the Lord does not diminish the interdependence that exists between the "action of service" and the Eucharistic action. It does not diminish our need to enter into these two actions if we are to be with the Risen Lord.