This Gospel passage hints at one question we should all be asking ourselves: Am I serving God? This question guided Pope Saint John Paul II, as can be seen through his meditations and reflections handwritten in his personal diaries between 1962 and two hours before his death. (These are available in the book In God’s Hands: The Spiritual Diaries of Pope John Paul II.)
John Paul II was a pope of the Catholic Church, a powerful, influential statesman on the world scene, and a devout man who transformed lives and nations with his charisma. His diaries, however, reveal him to be first and foremost a selfless servant of God. For over forty years, from his bishopric in Krakow, to his election to the papacy, to his final years, this one question guided him: “Am I serving God?”
In a diary note from 1981, the then Cardinal Wojtyla wrote this reflection after a theological discussion with other priests: “The word of the Lord. Do I love the word of God? Do I live by it? Do I serve it willingly? Help me, Lord, to live by your word… Do I serve the Holy Spirit that lives in the Church?”
Jesus personally approaches each of us as the way, the truth, and the life of humanity. Each of us has been given a role to play in the unfolding of the mystery of salvation. The most important question we can ask ourselves is this: “Am I serving God?” The radical discipleship required to follow Jesus will put us into situations that will help us recognize those areas where we aren’t yet serving God completely. Where we need conversion. Where we need hope. Where we need to give ourselves more wholly to love.
Over and over Jesus calls. Again and again, we are given the capacity to respond. Jesus is, indeed, patient. Yet what he wants to give to us is so great that he will do everything possible to keep us from dilly-dallying along the way. He will prod our consciences and awaken us from our sleep. Today, identify the one question you will write at the top of every journal page. Allow God to ask you at the beginning of every day until your heart leaps up with a resounding “Yes! I will serve you with all that I am and all that I have!”
Daily Reading
Wednesday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time
Reading 1 GAL 5:18-25 Brothers and sisters:If you are guided by the Spirit, you are not under the law.Now the works of the flesh are obvious:immorality, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry,sorcery, hatreds,…
Saint of the Day
Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque
Apostle of the Sacred Heart, celebrated for profound spirituality and devotion.
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