Saint Josaphat, Bishop and Martyr We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do. (Luke 17:10) Imagine that you’re in the military, and you are assigned to guard a top-secret government facility. You need to be alert, ready to defend your post at all costs, even at the cost of your life. Now imagine that while you are on duty, the facility is attacked. You repel the attackers, but you are shot in the battle. You survive, and you are awarded a medal for your bravery in a grand ceremony. Rather than reveling in the accolades and seeking more attention, most soldiers in this situation would simply say, “I was just doing my duty,” and then move on to their next assignment. Like those loyal soldiers, we are called to serve the Lord and not expect anything in return. We are called simply to fulfill our duty with loyalty, love, and honor. As heroic examples of this calling, we can think of people like Pope John Paul II, Mother Teresa of Calcutta, and countless other saints and martyrs. Each in his or her own way served the Lord without expecting any reward. They loved people. They cared for the poor and marginalized. They preached the gospel. They dedicated all their time and energy to the Lord. And they did it all simply because this is what a follower of Christ does. They never considered themselves off duty. Why would people commit themselves to such a demanding life? Because of Jesus! Just as a soldier is committed to his or her calling out of love of country and out of gratitude for the motherland, so these heroes committed themselves to the Lord because of all he had done for them. As St. Paul once wrote, “The love of Christ impels us, once we have come to the conviction that one died for all … so that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised” (2 Corinthians 5:14-15). You too are a soldier of the Lord. Redeemed by his blood and indwelt by his Spirit, you are a new creation. How will you serve your Master today? “Lord, thank you for filling me with your love! Lord, I want to serve you with my whole life!” Wisdom 2:23–3:9; Psalm 34:2-3, 16-19
Posted on: Tue, 12 Nov 2013 19:19:12 +0000
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