28-02-24 Lebih Berharga dari Emas: Menemukan Kebijaksanaan dalam Melayani

Wednesday 2nd week of Lent "Mt 20:17-28" Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him, with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. And he said to her, "What do you want?" She said to him, "Command that these two sons of mine may sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom." But Jesus answered, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?" They said to him, "We are able." He said to them, "You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father...whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave; even as the Son of man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Jesus teaches His disciples that the only ambition they should have is the ambition to serve. In fact, He taught this not just with words, but with deeds: they could never forget the God–made–man washing their feet. We too should always keep that picture in mind when we don't feel like serving the people around us. Lent is a time of service which is charity, and the disciples of Jesus follow His footsteps and example. We need to make a resolution to serve always and to serve everyone. And the first way to serve souls is by fulfilling our duties. Work is service. And to work diligently and with generosity is the best way to serve others. The journalist André Frossard said that the only 'known' means to prevent St John Paul II from working was 'general anaesthesia'. Nothing else could stop the Pope fulfilling his duties. And when someone recommended that he take care of himself and rest a while, he answered, "My health is not important. My holiness is. After one Pope there comes another Pope. Let me fulfil my duty." "How I like that word: service! To serve my king and, through him, all those who have been redeemed by his blood. I really wish we Christians knew how to serve, for only by serving can we know and love Christ and make him known and loved" (St Josemaría). Mother of Christ, Handmaid of the Lord, teach me to serve as you served your cousin St Elizabeth, with haste, as you did at the wedding at Cana and as you serve your children now.