what makes us happy when we serve - 26th week saturday

It is with great excitement that the disciples reported back to Jesus after being sent to their mission. They were successful and they came back triumphant.  At your name, they said, even the demons are subject to us.  They realized that they had power, they can do miracles.  They can heal and drive away evil spirits.  They were so happy and probably even proud.   Thus, Jesus said to them, I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.  What does that mean?  It can mean that Satan’s kingdom is finally beginning to crumble because of what the disciples did. But it could also mean another thing. It can mean - beware of the sin of Lucifer, beware of the sin of pride, the sin that makes you think that you can do things on our own, that you have power and you don’t need God anymore. The same sin of Satan himself.

Thus, Jesus reminded his disciples not to rejoice “because the spirits are subject to you but rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”  Rejoice not because you have the power, rejoice not because you can do miracles, but rejoice because you have served.  The joy of the apostle is the joy of one who has served, one who has served well.  It is a joy that does not come from power, position, titles, rank or whatever human recognition, but from the service itself.  Many of you are serving our parish –are you happy in serving your parish? Then ask yourself the more important question: where is that joy coming from – is it from human praise and recognition, or is it simply in knowing that you are serving the Lord?  Rejoice because your names are written in heaven