Prayer-Soldier Newbie
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Posted: Sun Jul 17, 2016 12:23 pm Post subject: A Time for Service and a Time to Receive the Lord |
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A Time for Service and a Time to Receive the Lord
Scripture:
And the Lord appeared to him in the vale of Mambre as he was sitting at the door of his tent, in the very heat of the day. And when he had lifted up his eyes, there appeared to him three men standing near to him: and as soon as he saw them, he ran to meet them from the door of his tent, and adored down to the ground. And he said: Lord, if I have found favor in your sight, pass not away from your servant. But I will fetch a little water, and wash your feet, and have you rest under the tree. And I will set a morsel of bread, and strengthen your heart, afterward you shall pass on: for therefore are you come aside to your servant. And they said: Do as you have spoken.
Abraham made haste into the tent to Sara, and said to her: Make haste, temper together three measures of flour, and make cakes upon the hearth. And he himself ran to the herd, and took from thence a calf, very tender and very good, and gave it to a young man, who made haste and boiled it. He took also butter and milk, and the calf which he had boiled, and set before them: but he stood by them under the tree. And when they had eaten, they said to him: Where is Sara your wife? He answered: Lo she is in the tent. And he said to him: I will return and come to you at this time, life accompanying, and Sara, your wife, shall have a son.
( Genesis 18:1-10a )
Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you and fill up those things that are wanting of the sufferings of Christ, in my flesh, for his body, which is the church: Whereof I am made a minister according to the dispensation of God, which is given me towards you, that I may fulfill the word of God: The mystery which has been hidden from ages and generations, but now is manifested to his saints, to whom God would make known the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ, in you the hope of glory. Whom we preach, admonishing every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.
( Colossians 1:24-28 )
Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain town: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who, sitting also at the feet of the Lord, heard his word. But Martha was busy about much serving. Who stood and said: Lord, have you no care that my sister has left me alone to serve? Speak to her therefore, that she help me. And the Lord answering, said to her: Martha, Martha, you are careful and are troubled about many things: But one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the best part, which shall not be taken away from her. ( Luke 10:38-42 )
Reflection:
Can we imagine in the society of our day that we would go to passers-by, strangers, and invite them into our home to serve them with gestures of civility, service and charity? In many neighborhoods, the people fear to offer hospitality to strangers for they do not know what dangers lurk or whether they may be opening their door to someone who would cause them harm. Indeed, the wicked pray upon those who are trusting; therefore, the people are taught by circumstance to be wary of one another.
We might wonder, what if we could live without fear of strangers who cross our path? What if we were able to engage, with civility and the sharing of blessings, those we do not know? What if we were able to approach one another in peace, recognizing that all are our brothers and sisters, no matter from whence they were born or the the characteristics of their bodies, are all children of His creation?
What if we were able to view the stranger as a potential angel, that as we minister to them, we may minister to a messenger of God? What if we were able to share of whatever God has allowed us so that we might bring happiness to another? We might find that we will gain in those moments far more than any work and toil designed only to serve ourselves. In such times, we might share with a soul who will return our kindness by giving kindness to another. In those opportunities, we may share that which will encourage peace. This is the world our God seeks for us, but, instead, we fall to selfish desires and passions which ultimately sow divisions and destroy souls.
We live in a society of instant gratification. We lack the patience to offer civility, compassion and charity without expectation of reward. We serve our senses over the needs and hearts of those who surround us. This is the way of the generations, but it need not be so.
The way of the evil one is to sow divisions and distrust. Against our foes, we may band together as communities or nations, but distrust is still sown within us as a means to protect ourselves from victimization and betrayal. With the violence of the world and the persecution of the faithful, it is prudent to be wary, but it does not relieve us of our responsibility to be civil and to reach out to those who are in need whether they are troubled in spirit, suffer from afflictions or lack means of sustenance.
It is not prudent to walk into the den of evil without means of defense, but, neither can we use the condition of the world as justification for lack of civility or withdrawing from service and ministry. A new army must be raised up and be made visible, an army made from the body of Christ. An army which marches forth with the greatest of commandments of God as their guide. While they must stand strong against violence and persecution, they must reach out with the love our Lord has asked us to share. (John 13:34)
Our fortunes do not remain constant. Sometimes we are the person who is in need. We are blessed as others reach out to help us. We are also blessed to give others an opportunity to minister, for as they do, they live as God commands. We should accept such moments with humility and thanks that God raises those who bring forth to us gifts of compassion and love.
Still, we must also seek to do our part for others who may be less fortunate than ourselves. No matter our circumstance, there is always someone else who is in greater need. Even the rich need ministry of spirit. God created talents within us and entrusted gifts to us so that we might also be the person who fulfills His commandments through the caring of others. We must seek, with rejoicing, the opportunities to give as He would have us give.
Scripture tells us there is an appointed time for everything. (Ecclesiastes 3:1-15) What is within our responsibility is the choices which are appropriate for the time at hand. We must remember God is less concerned with the size of the burdens we assume for ourselves as the quality of the moments we share with Him and in fulfillment of His commandments to love one another. (Leviticus 19:18, Matthew 22:36-40, Mark 12:28-34, Romans 13:8-10) So it was with Mary and Martha that one chose to serve while another chose to receive from Her Lord. One might debate as to who was more noble by what they did and what they failed to do, but what Jesus sought for us to see in the moment before Him is that what is in the heart is by how He will judge our choices. There is a time to work and serve and there is a time to receive from the blessings of our Lord.
Though we are encouraged and it is good to turn our hands to works in service of others, we diminish ourselves when we look to such moments as a means to judge ourselves as somehow greater than those who walk other paths. If we rejoice at our opportunities to minister, our Lord and all who are in heaven will rejoice with us, but if we approach service as a burden and expect notoriety and rewards in compensation for what we do, then, we might be shocked at the silence in heaven. Let us, then, look at our opportunities to receive and to give. Let us ask God to guide us to know the moments which are appropriate for our labor and the moments appropriate for receiving, learning, growing and rejoicing in the Lord.
Let us accept all within our faith in humility and rejoice at what we receive through the Lord. Let us also look at our moments and rejoice at the opportunities to share as the Lord would have us share. Let us recognize the times which God allows us and seek His guidance as to what we should do with each moment so that His plan for us may be rightly and justly fulfilled. If we are confused with what should be our response within the opportunities before us, let us pray the Holy Spirit will guide us in what we say and what we do. (Mark 13:11, John 14:26)
May the peace and blessings of the Lord be with you always,
Prayer Soldier
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