May 26, 2013: Service – Michael Hidalgo

When we serve others, we use what we have been given – in resources and talents – to actively seek the highest, common good of others and the causes of God in our world. Serving, as a discipline, is a way for us to teach ourselves to stay away from arrogance, possessiveness, envy, resentment, or covetousness. When it is done this way it is done as a discipline. This is an important distinction to make in our world today.

In the last decade, justice, advocacy, protest and the like have become rather sexy. To serve the poor has become the place of rock stars and celebrities. What once used to be repulsive – serving the least of these – has become decidedly glamorous. While we need not throw stones at the celebrities for their insistence that we join them, we must pause and look at ourselves. For much of what is passed off as service these days comes with a minimal price. It’s easy. We can wear a t-shirt, sign an online petition or go to a benefit concert. But Paul said our attitude of mind should be like Jesus … who was willing to give his life to serve all.