going into the service?
"As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord." —Joshua 24:15
When Joshua died, he was described as a "servant of the Lord" (Jos 24:29). Jesus came not to be served but to serve (Mt 20:28). We, who are Jesus' followers, live to serve. We pray to our Father in the second eucharistic prayer: "We thank You for counting us worthy to stand in Your presence and serve You."
To serve the Lord, we must:
- "fear the Lord" (Jos 24:14),
- serve Him completely, sincerely (Jos 24:14), and joyfully (Ps 100:2),
- try to serve not in isolation but as a member of a household and Christian community (see Jos 24:15),
- receive God's grace, for we are not able to serve Him by our human power (Jos 24:19),
- decide not to serve ourselves or other gods (Jos 24:15), and
- make a decision to serve Him (Jos 24:15, 22).
Will you and your household choose right now to serve the Lord by His standards? Jesus served us to the point of dying on the cross for us (Mt 20:28). Will you serve and live for Him Who served to the point of dying for you? Decide now.
Prayer: Father, I thank You forever for the privilege of serving you.
Promise: "Children were brought to Him so that He could place His hands on them in prayer." —Mt 19:13
Praise: St. Jane Frances served faithfully as wife, mother, religious, and foundress, serving God and her neighbor.
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Ralph J. Lawrence, February 13, 2001
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, February 20, 2001