In my last post, To Serve God, I was talking about how one really important way we can show God we love him, and serve him, is by serving others.
I’ve been thinking a lot about that idea and how we might apply it in other places.
For instance, what if we applied it to the concept of God-Is-My-Everything Love (i.e., patient, kind, humble, mature, forgiving, etc., etc.) that I talked about two posts ago, in Where Is the Love? We can put those two ideas together and get a new, but related, concept:
For instance, what if we applied it to the concept of God-Is-My-Everything Love (i.e., patient, kind, humble, mature, forgiving, etc., etc.) that I talked about two posts ago, in Where Is the Love? We can put those two ideas together and get a new, but related, concept:
God-Is-My-Everything SERVICE TO OTHERS
which is patient, kind, humble, mature, forgiving, etc., etc.
Or what if we applied it to the passage in the Gospel of Mark where the Scribe asks Jesus about which commandment is the greatest commandment? Jesus answers:
The first is, "Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.' The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'” (Mark 12:29-31)
But if we show God we love him, and serve him, by serving others, couldn’t we also think of the greatest commandment in these terms:
Serve Others With All My Heart, Soul, Mind, and Strength
- God-Is-My-Everything Service to Others, and
- Serving others with my Heart, Soul, mind, and strength,
all of the sudden I’ve got a lot more information to work with!
- Serve others with a patient heart, a patient soul, a patient mind, and patient strength.
- Serve others with a kind heart, a kind soul, a kind mind, and kind strength;
- Serve others with a humble heart, a humble soul, and humble mind, and humble strength;
- Serve others with a peaceful heart, a peaceful soul, a peaceful mind, and peaceful strength;
- Serve others with an easygoing heart, an easygoing soul, an easygoing mind, and easygoing strength;
- Serve others with a friendly heart, a friendly soul, a friendly mind, and friendly strength;
- Serve others with a gentle heart, a gentle soul, a gentle mind, and gentle strength;
- Serve others with a heart that encourages, a soul that encourages, a mind that encourages, and strength that encourages;
- Serve others with a heart that builds up, a soul that builds up, a mind that builds up, and strength that builds up;
- Serve others with a mature heart, a mature soul, a mature mind, and mature strength;
- Serve others with a heart that is genuine, a soul that is genuine, a mind that is genuine, and strength that is genuine;
- Serve others with a forgiving heart, a forgiving soul, a forgiving mind, and forgiving strength;
- Serve others with a faithful heart, a faithful soul, a faithful mind, and faithful strength;
- Serve others with a God-focused heart, a God-focused soul, a God-focused mind, and God-focused strength;
- Serve others with a heart that rejoices in truth, a soul that rejoices in truth, a mind that rejoices in truth, and strength that rejoices truth.
- and so on.
Querci, I was just thinking about how great it would be if everyone did this as you suggest, i.e., GIMEL service to others. It makes me want to cry. It's a good thing I have an inner flame because an outer flame might be burnt out from such sadness. Jesus gave us everything we need, but we aren't doing it. Why? What's the excuse? Isn't grace a free gift? Do we think we haven't worked hard enough to receive the Grace? Do we think we are too unworthy to receive it? Who are we to say we are unworthy when God has made us worthy? Who is to say that we haven't worked hard enough, when it is a free gift?
ReplyDeleteI was thinking about this, "Gloria in exclesis deo. Et in terra pax hominibus bone voluntatis." Notice how it says, "peace to people of GOOD WILL"? Why doesn't it just say, "peace to all people"? I don't think peace is possible for people who are not of good will, i.e., who don't practice this kind of GIMEL service to others with everyone. You cannot be at peace unless you are of good will. Or, you may have a false "peace" if you are willing to fool yourself.
"They have healed the wound of my people lightly, saying, 'Peace, peace,' when there is no peace. (Jer 6:14)
I don't want any false peace, false love, false good news, false nothin', Querci!
I totally agree with your "good will" assessment, Ember. I was thinking the same thing ever since we started using the retranslated "Gloria" at Mass.
ReplyDeleteQuerci - you have provided an excellent four-fold blueprint for a life of true goodness, wholeness and inner peace. I pray for the grace to let this blueprint guide my way.
ReplyDeleteI love your unique illustrations :)