29th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Cycle B, Year I)

Community Word:  True disciples of Jesus bear the nature and character of a child.

Theme:    We bear the nature and character of a child when we serve with humility.

Promise:    “The eyes of the Lord are upon those who fear him, upon those who hope    for his kindness.”(Ps 33:18)

Reflection:

“For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many,”(Mk 10:45).Our Lord Jesus Christ willingly gave Himself and died for our sake that we may live.  This is the perfect description of Jesus as the “Suffering Servant.”Being the Son of God, Jesus did not have to undergo any suffering.

Yet, in submitting to God’s will, He became man and experienced temptation and trials, pain and suffering, but not sin, to be able to identify with us in all things and to show us that there is nothing He is not willing to do Himself.He gave Himself fully to others as both the great High Priest and the Victim through His death on the cross.

Jesus lived His whole life as servant to others and He lived “not to be served, but to serve.”  He served by inspiring people with His words of truth and encouragement.  He ministered to them through His healing miracles.  He fully identified with them through His temptations.   As our Master-Teacher, He wanted all to learn much from His suffering and from being a servant.

Jesus teaches that humble service can motivate us to be true disciples when He says:“Whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all,” (Mk 10:43).  Unfortunately, many are not interested in being servants. Their thoughts, actions and even their prayers are centered on simply fulfilling ones desires.  Like James and John who thought that sitting next to Jesus in His kingdom is that easy, there are those who focus on pursuing big titles, position and honor.  When called to do a task, some tend to be selfish with time and energy because they only want to live comfortable and complacent lives.

How Jesus Christ lived as a servant to others is the ultimate example by which we ought to fashion our lives.  He wants us, His followers, to learn how to become servant leaders not only in word but more so, in deed, to lead and influence others by serving them in their needs.  As we reflect on Jesus’ example of humble servanthood, we should then ask ‘what can I do for my community’ rather than asking ‘What can my community do for me.’

Suffering cannot be avoided when we serve in community.  As we go through many trials and sacrifices, it becomes an opportunity for us to have a closer relationship with God.  As we endure and persevere, God enables us to experience the fullness of life in the end.  He promises to bring about deliverance from death and suffering as aptly written in Psalms 33:18-19, which is our Promise this week:“See, the eyes of the Lord are upon those who fear him, upon those who hope for his kindness, to deliver them from death and preserve them inspite of famine.”

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we thank you for loving and givingus Your Son Jesus, who shared our humanity that we might share Your divinity.  By His example, grant us a heart of service, even if inconvenient, to think of the needs of others before our own – at home, at work and in our community.  Holy Spirit, inspire us to have the courage and commitment to be willing and humble servants to others, knowing that our power is in Christ Jesus.  Amen.

Reflection Questions:
1.    In what ways can you serve those whom you encounter at home, at work and in my community?

2.    How often do you serve in the mission outreaches of your community?  Is there joy and fulfillment in serving those in need?

This Week’s Daily Mass Reading Guide:
October 18, 2015 (Sun)    Is 53:10-11/Ps 33:4-5,18-19,20,22/Heb 4:14-16/Mk 10:35-45
October 19, 2015 (Mon)    Rom 4:20-25/Lk 1:69-70,71-72,73-75/Lk 12:13-21
October 20, 2015 (Tue)    Rom 5:12,15,17-19,20-21/Ps 40:7-8,8-9,10,17/Lk 12:35-38
October 21, 2015 (Wed)    Rom 6:12-18/Ps 124:1-3,4-6,7-8/Lk 12:39-48
October 22, 2015 (Thu)    Rom 6:19-23/Ps 1:1-2,3,4,6/Lk 12:49-53
October 23, 2015 (Fri)      Rom 7:18-25/Ps 119:66,68,76,77,93,94/Lk 12:54-59
October 24, 2015 (Sat)    Rom 8:1-11/Ps 24:1-2,3-4,5-6/Lk 13:1-9

“Ignorance of the Bible is ignorance of Christ.  Read your Bible daily!”

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