Called to Serve

Each of us is called by God in some way to serve.  The love of Christ is something that we desire and that those in our broken world need.  Lately I have been thinking a lot about missions.  The first apostles by saying "yes" to Christ became the first missionaries.  Jesus called them to "come and follow me."  And follow they did as they were set out to catch not just fish, but men!

As those first followers of Christ did 2,000 years ago, so we are called to do so today.  In our own way in our own time and in this 21st Century, you and I are called to serve.  So what does that mean?  How do I go out and share Christ's love with others?  For many of us we have an opportunity every day to brighten someones day with a simple listening ear, a compliment, a random act of kindness.  As author Matthew Kelly suggests, when we respond positively to the Holy moments that come our way we say yes to God.  A Holy moment is any encounter where we give or receive Jesus.  It can be as simple as holding the door for someone and offering a smile or as profound as traveling across the globe to serve the poor in a third world country.  As Saint Mother Teresa mentioned so often, "Do small things with great love."  Love doesn't cost us anything, except our time and energy.  We all have love to share and this is what serving God is all about.

When I came back from Mexico City in April of 2019 my life was forever changed.  After spending 5 days with the poorest of the poor, I realized that my life was a gift that I needed to share with others.  As I played in the dirt with kids in the dump in Mexico and had an encounter with Jesus that I had never had experienced before, it was then that God's love showered me with graces that opened my eyes in a new way.  There is a reason why Jesus says, "Unless you become like one of these little ones, you shall not inherit the Kingdom of Heaven." (Matthew 18:3)  When we serve we  become children of God, we are able to give from the heart and give all that God has given to us as a gift to others.

I believe we can change the world.  It happens one moment, one day, and one person at a time.  Jesus loves us and has provided us with a gift and that love and joy is to be shared with the world; "I have told you these things, so that my joy might be in you and your joy be complete." (John 15:11).  When we serve others and shine his light in the broken world, we share Christ and when we share Him everything changes.  Joy is something that is given and it is something that is received.  Serving allows this spiritual and fruitful explosion of God's love to come to completeness and it lightens our heart and moves our soul. 

So the next time you are with someone, be open to those opportunities to serve.  Service comes in the form of being a good friend, a loving spouse, a helpful neighbor, and a willing to listen co-worker.  Service comes in the form of praying for others, an encouraging note, an uplifting text message, a call on a lonely night.  Service comes in the form of being the hands and feet of Christ by visiting the sick, spending time with those in prison, and heeding the cry of the poor.  Whatever you do know that when you give you shall receive and blessed are you because you loved as Jesus called us to do.  Never was there a day or a time when you will give of yourself and serve others that you will not be changed.  It is not easy and you might not want to, but know that you are changing the world.  So this week go out and find your mission field.  Serve others and love.  Allow the love of Christ to flow through you to the world so that "your light might shine before others, so that they might see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven." (Matthew 5:16)  Go out and serve by being a light.  Together we can change the world!