Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people. – Ephesians 6:7

I was trained to serve God with the best of my abilities. It may be carrying the speakers and instruments, mopping the floor, or arranging the chairs but I would do it without any complaint. In my heart, I knew I was serving a God who deserves no less than my best.

       But, I wasn’t able to apply this principle in my corporate job. For me, it was just about meeting deadlines, perfecting attendance, and merely doing what I was expected to do.

       When I listened to one of the talks of Bo Sanchez, I had a change in perspective. He invited the people to give their best in their current field because it’s not about getting the approval of your boss but of honoring God who gave you the ability to work. I decided to work hard and learn the different angles of the industry. I started to do more than what I was expected.

       Now, I am working full-time for the Light of Jesus Family under Bo, and I carry the same principles he taught me. I do my best for my audience of One — Jesus Christ Himself. Jan Carlo Silan (jan@makatifeast.com)

Reflection: Do you do things to please people or to please God? Are you looking for affirmation from others or from God?

Lord, You are my Boss. Remind me that You gave me the talents to serve a great purpose in my life. Amen.

St. Narcissus of Jerusalem, pray for us.

Honoring our parents is an important virtue in society. If we lose respect for our parents, we will lose respect for any of our elders. If this happens, we lose the capacity to learn from the wisdom of others and always insist on testing principles for ourselves. This is both a wasteful and silly way to approach learning. Let us allow the grace of God to instill respect for others in our hearts.

1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother. This is the first commandment with a promise, 3 “that it may go well with you and that you may have a long life on earth.” 4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up with the training and instruction of the Lord. 5 Slaves, be obedient to your human masters with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ, 6 not only when being watched, as currying favor, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, 7 willingly serving the Lord and not men, 8 knowing that each will be requited from the Lord for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free. 9 Masters, act in the same way toward them, and stop bullying, knowing that both they and you have a Master in heaven and that with him there is no partiality.

R: The Lord is faithful in all his works.

10 Let all your works give you thanks, O Lord, and let your faithful ones bless you. 11 Let them discourse of the glory of your Kingdom and speak of your might. (R) 12 Making known to men your might and the glorious splendor of your Kingdom. 13 Your Kingdom is a Kingdom for all ages, and your dominion endures through all generations. (R) The Lord is faithful in all his words and holy in all his works. 14 The Lord lifts up all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down. (R)

How many of us strive to enter by the narrow gate? Wide gates are easier to pass through but in the case of salvation they often lead to the wrong direction. It is critical that we do not allow ourselves to be seduced by the wide and easy path, only to discover later that it leads nowhere or worse, into serious sin.

God has called us through the Gospel to possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

22 Jesus passed through towns and villages, teaching as he went and making his way to Jerusalem. 23 Someone asked him, “Lord, will only a few people be saved?” He answered them, 24 “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough. 25 After the master of the house has arisen and locked the door, then will you stand outside knocking and saying, ‘Lord, open the door for us.’ He will say to you in reply, ‘I do not know where you are from.’ 26 And you will say, ‘We ate and drank in your company and you taught in our streets.’ 27 Then he will say to you, ‘I do not know where you are from. Depart from me, all you evildoers!’ 28 And there will be wailing and grinding of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and all the prophets in the Kingdom of God and you yourselves cast out. 29 And people will come from the east and the west and from the north and the south and will recline at table in the Kingdom of God. 30 For behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”

think:  Do you strive to enter by the narrow gate?

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Isaiah 25-28

EXERCISING AUTHORITY

The First Reading is referred to as St. Paul’s “household code.” Acting as a solicitous teacher, he advises his readers from all walks of life: wives, husbands, children, parents, slaves and masters.

       One does not have to be a psychologist to realize that there exists a “power differential” between and among all six groups. Just take a look at your family. Power resides either on the father or the mother, and in some cases, on the one who holds the purse. At times, children lord it over the household in various ways, although normally, it should be the parents who call the shots. In times when slavery was common, masters would never allow themselves to be under their servants. It was simply the right thing to do then. The world valued power and always tried to preserve that hierarchical power structure. There was no question about who should lord it over others, and those who did usually bullied others into submission.

       St. Paul offers a different way of exercising authority, all on account of one defining, additional element. He redefined the nature of relationships between people and how authority ought to be exercised.

       As one who had been in authority myself, I have had very trying moments in the exercise of leadership. At times, one is tempted to assert authority in order to get the desired results according to a definite plan. By using the sheer force of authority and position, one can easily resort to bullying. Being manipulative is one such way to assure compliance. At times, applying pressure, or making people feel unnecessarily guilty could be resorted to, always under the pretext that one is advancing a noble cause.

       By adding one simple phrase, “in the Lord,” Paul shows us that there is a proper and Christian way of exercising authority.  Relationships are then no longer based on power differential, but on equality and human dignity. Simply put, parents still need to train children; children still have to honor and obey their parents. Masters still have to take slaves to task. All the same things, but for a different motive — in the Lord! Fr. Chito Dimaranan, SDB    

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: If you are in a position of authority, how do you motivate your subordinates to follow you? If you are a follower, what motivates you to follow your leader?

I pray, Lord, for my leaders, for my parents, and for all those in position of authority. May they follow Your example of leadership.