KNOW THE JOY OF SERVING
Let's allow our arms to always
be open to others in generosity, and may we know the joy of serving!
We know that Mary Magdalene
had lived a very troubled life before Jesus freed her from, what we are told,
"seven demons" (Lk 8:2). She was privileged to be the first to see
Jesus as the risen Lord. As the wife of King Herod's chief financial officer,
Joanna was a wealthy lady of the court. It's unlikely that these two would have
ever met under other circumstances. What brought them together and united them
in a bond of friendship, service, and loyalty to Jesus? Certainly it was Jesus
and His message of the Kingdom of God that had transformed their lives.
I wonder if we are sometimes
like the Apostles who were status conscious, or are we like the women who were
content to serve quietly but generously? Jesus is our greatest example and
these women gladly imitated Him in their humble service. Today's Gospel makes me
think about the sixth station of the cross: Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus.
She approaches our Lord with a white cloth to wipe His blood filled face with
love, compassion and arms open to help in generosity. Maybe we can each take
time today to reflect on this station and read a shortstory about someone
reaching out in love and compassion.
Let's allow our arms to
always be open to others in generosity, and may we know the joy of serving!