Serving Christ

Gospel: John 12: 24-26

What does it mean to serve the Lord Jesus? For some it means engaging in liturgical ritual and worship; for others it means building churches and institutions; still others see it as teaching the Gospel; and still others see it as engaging in media evangelization.  But what did Jesus mean when he talked about serving him?

When he sent out the 12 and the 72, Jesus instructed them to heal the sick and lame, to free those gripped by demons, and to announce that God's kingdom was open to all people, that God's mercy was extended to all and not to a few.  When Jesus spoke of judgment, it was in the context of feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, caring for the imprisoned and foreigner, clothing the naked.  In short, to serve the Lord Jesus is to serve those in need - the poor and marginalized.  

Today's saint understood this lesson well.  When asked to give over the riches of the church, Lawrence brought to court the poor and announced: "This is the treasure of the Church!" It is the human person, made in God's image and is God's temple alone - that is our treasure.  It is in serving the needs of people that we serve Christ, where our treasure lies.  Here alone, in the needs of other people, is where Christ is present and served.