We Are Called To be Disciples in Community:

To Follow Jesus in Service

Taken from the New American Bible. A reading according to the Gospel of Mark: Chapter
10, verses 42-45
42 Jesus summoned them and said to them: You know that those who are recognized
as rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones make their authority over
them felt. 43 But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you
will be your servant; 44 whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all. 45 For
the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and give his life as a ransom for
many.
There are three points to the reading:
1. Service
2. Sacrifice
3. Salvation
Service
David Haas tells us in a song that he composed that we are called to do the following: to act
with justice, to love tenderly, to serve one another, and to walk humbly with God. The
aforementioned can be compressed into the act of service. Service is an act rendered out of
love, mercy, and compassion. It is not motivated by selfish gain. Rather, to put ones self in
the service of others is a continuous choice that has the others best interest at heart, and it is
an act motivated by the love of God and the love of neighbor. Service is closely tied to two
things: Discipleship and Stewardship. In the text of the Evangelizing Presence, it is stated
that: Christian discipleship involves imitating the pattern of Jesus life by openness to Gods
will in the service of others, it is a deep union with our Lord Jesus Christ, lived in community
with and for others. Discipleship has a threefold nature: we are called to know Christ, we are
to follow His actions, and we are to make disciples of others. In order for us to know Christ,
me must not only read the scriptures, but also understand what the actions taken meant during
His time. The meaning of an act is dependent upon the signs of the times and it is imperative
that we place our reading and interpretation of the scripture in context, and at the same time,
we must remember that all that is said and done by Christ has always been and will always be
rooted in love.

To be in the service of others does not suggest that one must submit to the will of others nor
do we thrust our own will upon others when in the state of power. As humans, we are granted
the gift of free will. No one has the right to take this will away from us for it is God himself
who gave us the freedom to choose what we will. Imitating the pattern of Jesus life is an
active decision that requires commitment and constant reflection of ones acts and reevaluation of ones goals. Ones holiness is not determined by ones job, rank, or vocation.
Rather, it is judged based on ones closeness with God.
In Philippine society today, a huge amount of people, especially those in the state of power
that is meant to serve the people claim to be devout Christians, yet these same people are the
ones that use their position to commit acts of injustice to the people they are meant to aid.
We spend a huge amount of our time trying to recognize the problems and abuses present in
our society and discussing what actions we can take to make the necessary changes, but there
is a lack of active involvement, of active service. It is not only important that we understand,
but we must also take action especially when we are privy to what needs to be done.
Sacrifice
It is important to remember that it is never easy to closely follow Christ and His works. We
will always be subjected to temptation and trials. To follow Christ means letting go of the
earthly pleasures and luxuries that one aspire for, and instead to live humbly and work closely
with the poor. Sacrifice is often equated to suffering and that should not be so for the Lord
God Himself does not wish for His people to suffer.
To be in the service of others is a sacrifice one makes. This sacrifice is born out of love for
the meek, the poor, and most especially the unlovable. Like a mother who is in the constant
service of her child, each and every one of us must make the effort to bring our fellowmen
closer to God. We should not make distinctions between people. It is our responsibility as
Disciples of Christ to guide people to the right path and to do so sometimes means that we
must stay behind in order to ensure that we are able to rescue those who stray like the good
shepherd. To prioritize the betterment of others is difficult and this task is made even more
challenging when we ourselves must be mindful of our own relationship with God.
Sacrifice not only entails doing as God commanded, but also talking to Him in order for us to
be enlightened of our task as a servant to others. Prayer is an important aspect in our life of

service for it brings us closer to God and it allows us to gain insight of our tasks as His
disciples.
Salvation
Salvation is determined by ones actions. However, it is important to remember that salvation
is meant to be for all. Service is a communal act that requires personal effort. Because of our
innate concupiscence, it is easier for us to fall victim to earthly desires and pleasures thus, we
must overcome these temptations and instead allow ourselves live a life of simplicity and joy
that is rooted in love. Love is the very core of service. It is the driving force that allows us to
be continuously motivated to do good for we recognize that after all the hardships we
encounter, salvation awaits us at the time of our death.
To be reunited with our Creator is the end goal for every Christian and this reunion would be
even greater when we are reunited together with Him along with all our brothers and sisters
whom we helped in this lifetime.