To Serve is to Love
Serving others is what every Christian is called to in some way or another. Some people are called into the mission fields of third-world countries. Others are called to be domestic servants, helping those in their own community. And all of us are called to be servants in our families. As parents. As siblings. As friends.
Christians have the example of Jesus Christ to show us how to be servants. He defined the word by how He lived. Jesus constantly desired the well-being of others. He was always putting others' needs before His own. And He lived a very full and prosperous life as a human being. His followers saw the life Jesus lived and how it not only bettered the lives of those He served, but it also was very beneficial to His own. They then strived to live a life like His. Did it tire them? Sure it did. Were they worn out because they served so many? Of course! But it had to be done, and in serving others, the followers of Christ experienced the reward of doing the will of God. When you serve others the way the Lord wants you to, you are spiritually fulfilled, happy, and receive the grace of God. There will definitely be times when you get tired and probably even frustrated, but that's part of the human condition. Don't lose heart!
Nothing is perfect or without conflict. If life were perfect, we would have no need to serve or be served!
When we serve others, it is important to remember that they are not inferior to us in any way. We are just being Christ's Hands and Feet meeting people where they're at. We are loving those we serve. Our love may take different forms, but that's really what serving is. We are loving the poor when we serve at the Banquet or donate to a food pantry. We are loving women in difficult situations when we volunteer at a pregnancy crisis center. We are loving our youth and our church family when we give of ourselves in our parish.
When we serve, we love.
"To love is to will the good of another," in the words of St. Thomas Aquinas. In order to truly serve a person, you must have the mindset of willing the good of the person you are serving. You are not serving them for your personal benefit; that defeats the whole purpose! Servants put other people first, thinking of themselves last. It is hard to keep that in the forefront of your mind when you are serving others, but it is essential. I hate washing dishes, but when Mom is gone and our kitchen counter is piled high with dirty pots and pans, I wash them for her because:
1) it needs to be done, and
2) it helps Mom out to not have as many things to do when she gets home.
I do it for her. That's a huge sacrifice for me, but it's worth it to know that I have relieved at least a little bit of her workload. This actually in turn makes me feel better and helps our whole house run more smoothly, which benefits everyone, including myself.
So you see, serving really comes full circle, regardless of whether you anticipate it or not.
In Aquinas' quote, he uses the word "will", which implies action. Love, therefore, requires action. If we will the good of another, we act on our desire for their well-being. Serving them is a sign of love, and an act of wanting their good above our own. In other words, to love is to serve one another! I think that's pretty awesome.
Christians have the example of Jesus Christ to show us how to be servants. He defined the word by how He lived. Jesus constantly desired the well-being of others. He was always putting others' needs before His own. And He lived a very full and prosperous life as a human being. His followers saw the life Jesus lived and how it not only bettered the lives of those He served, but it also was very beneficial to His own. They then strived to live a life like His. Did it tire them? Sure it did. Were they worn out because they served so many? Of course! But it had to be done, and in serving others, the followers of Christ experienced the reward of doing the will of God. When you serve others the way the Lord wants you to, you are spiritually fulfilled, happy, and receive the grace of God. There will definitely be times when you get tired and probably even frustrated, but that's part of the human condition. Don't lose heart!
Nothing is perfect or without conflict. If life were perfect, we would have no need to serve or be served!
When we serve others, it is important to remember that they are not inferior to us in any way. We are just being Christ's Hands and Feet meeting people where they're at. We are loving those we serve. Our love may take different forms, but that's really what serving is. We are loving the poor when we serve at the Banquet or donate to a food pantry. We are loving women in difficult situations when we volunteer at a pregnancy crisis center. We are loving our youth and our church family when we give of ourselves in our parish.
When we serve, we love.
"To love is to will the good of another," in the words of St. Thomas Aquinas. In order to truly serve a person, you must have the mindset of willing the good of the person you are serving. You are not serving them for your personal benefit; that defeats the whole purpose! Servants put other people first, thinking of themselves last. It is hard to keep that in the forefront of your mind when you are serving others, but it is essential. I hate washing dishes, but when Mom is gone and our kitchen counter is piled high with dirty pots and pans, I wash them for her because:
1) it needs to be done, and
2) it helps Mom out to not have as many things to do when she gets home.
I do it for her. That's a huge sacrifice for me, but it's worth it to know that I have relieved at least a little bit of her workload. This actually in turn makes me feel better and helps our whole house run more smoothly, which benefits everyone, including myself.
So you see, serving really comes full circle, regardless of whether you anticipate it or not.
In Aquinas' quote, he uses the word "will", which implies action. Love, therefore, requires action. If we will the good of another, we act on our desire for their well-being. Serving them is a sign of love, and an act of wanting their good above our own. In other words, to love is to serve one another! I think that's pretty awesome.
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