I grew up in a family were service to others was valued. My father, who is now deceased, instilled in us the value of helping those around us. Not because we had to, but because we were blessed and could. I remember very vividly a time that we were walking into a place and an older person was coming in behind, he told me to open the do, I was a teen then and said of course I said why should I? He gave me this stern look and said, because you can. Maybe is silly, but that is what I remember of my father the most. Help because you can. Not because he told me to, but because God had blessed me with strength and the ability to see. To this day I am always on the look out to see who needs my help. I don’t look for people to say thank you, which in many cases they do, but I try to use the many blessings that God has given me to bless others.
“If anyone would be first, he must be last of all, and servant of all.” Mk 9, 35
Pope Francis said this words in his Angelous address: “Our fidelity to the Lord depends on our willingness to serve…” We love Christ and we want to follow him and we are faithful to him as we open our eyes and hearts to those around us. He loved us first and in this relationship of love we want to be present in the moment and live out our faith by showing that love. Not because we want to be recognized as great people, but because we want our faith to speak through our actions. There is an epidemy of loneliness in our young people today. The pandemic has not made it easier for our young people. The Springtide Research Institute, the leading voice on research with young people has found that 1 in 3 young people feel alone much of the time and that nearly 40% don’t have anyone to talk to and feel left out.
As you and I walk around, specially in your college campus or school even at work, through our service we can make people feel they belon. A smile, opening a door, just saying hello, and meaning it, can be a sign of our faith and a sign of closeness to other people. We might not who they are or they might not react well the first time, but we do it in the name of Christ, as my father said, because we can. In the words of Pope Francis: “greatness and success” are not measured by social position, job title, or wealth, but by service; “not on what someone has, but on what someone gives.” Don’t be afraid to give your life and be present to those around you. You might be saving someone and who knows maybe it can be the beginning of a relationship.
"Blessed Virgin Mary, help us to understand that to serve does not belittle us, but helps us to grow.” Amen. Pope Francis
Meditato
Take a moment and meditate on your daily routine. Are you listening to God's voice to help those around you? When can you be of service to someone that needs to be lifeted out?
Make a mental plan on how you are going to conquer the fear of helping someone even if they don't thank you.
Make a resolution to serve.
At the end of the day, thank God for the many blessings he has bestowed upon you and pray for those you came in contact with, specially pray for all those that feel invisible that no one cares about them.
If you belong to a young adult group, invite them to keep an open eye, ear and heart and share the following week on what God allowed to see this week of being preent to others thgough service.
Let us Pray:
I invite you to put yourself in a spirit of Prayer. . Breathe and imagine that you are before the Lord. Ask him what he wants from you, where he wants you to go to witness his love. Ask him what are the miracles he wants to carry out through you. Offer yourself your fears and uncertainties and tell him with an open heart what troubles you. Tell him here I am Lord to do your will, here I am Lord to do your will. Listen to this song by Luke Spehar- All Is Gift
Here I am Lord to do your will
Join me in praying this prayer of St. Ignatious of Loyola: Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will. All I own and all I have, You gave to me, to you, Lord, I return it. Everything is yours, dispose of it according to your will. Give me your love and grace, this is enough for me. Amen.
You can pray an Our Father and a Hail Mary slowly breathing between sentences.
Finish by asking for the needs of your family, your friends. For the Holy Father and his intention for the month of September: so "we all will make courageous choices, the choices necessary for a simple and environmentally sustainable lifestyle, taking inspiration from our young people who are resolutely committed to this".:
Pray for Bishops, priests, men and women religious. So that the Lord will fill you with joy. We end by asking Our Lady, a model of charity, to cover us with her mantle and pray for us so that we may be generous; and through the intercession of our patron saints: Saint Gema Galgani, Saint Joselito, Blessed Chiara Badano and Blessed Carlo Acutis.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, I trust in You. Amen.
