Wednesday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time
Obedience and Service to the Lord
Click here for today's readings on the USCCB website.
Reading: Philippians 2:12-18
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 27:1, 4, 13-14
Alleluia: 1 Peter 4:14
Gospel: Luke 14:25-33
Today’s readings audio:
Obedience and Service in the World (Philippians 2:12-18)
In today’s first reading, St. Paul discusses obedience and service in the world. He talks about doing what is right, even when no one is watching and he also says not to grumble or question. At the end, it says, even if he is martyred for the faith, he will rejoice.
14 Do everything without grumbling or questioning,
15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine like lights in the world,Philippians 2:14-15
I have friends and they are going through some challenges right now. But through it all, their marriage remains steadfast, and she has offered up these challenges and their sufferings to be joined with the Sacred Heart of Jesus. No matter the curveball that is thrown at them that day, they persevere (and they have a lot of curveballs each day). They are an embodiment of this first reading and an inspiration as I go through my day.
We too need to be obedient in our service to the Lord in a way that is befitting our particular vocation. If we are married, we need to be caring spouses and if we have children, we need to raise them properly. We need to raise our children to have this same obedience and sense of service. If we are single, we need to discern what our service to the Lord looks like and then carry it out.
And if I go back to the first part of the reading today, St. Paul says we need to do all of this working out our salvation in fear and trembling.
12 So then, my beloved, obedient as you have always been, not only when I am present but all the more now when I am absent, work out your salvation with fear and trembling.
Philippians 2:12
We are freed from the stain of original sin by the sacrament of Baptism and we are strengthened with the sacraments of Confirmation and Reconciliation. We receive nourishment and strength from the Eucharist at Mass. For those called to the sacrament of Marriage, the spouses strengthen each other. But our salvation is not guaranteed. We can stumble and fall and if we do not pick ourselves up and run back to the arms of Jesus Christ through Confession, we run the risks of eternal separation from Him.
We must work out our salvation with fear and trembling. We need do what is right, not only out of fear from going to Hell, but because we actually love and want to give right worship to God. Many people would have you believe that God is simply the god of love and peace and happiness and that there are few consequences for our actions on this earth and that everyone will be saved. This simply is not the case and not a biblical view.
Today and in the future, how will you work out your salvation? How will your show your obedience and service to God? Are you willing to give up your pride and stubbornness to do so?
Sayings on Discipleship (Luke 14:25-33)
26 If any one comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.
27 Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.Luke 14:26-27
In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus tells the crowd, if anyone wants to come to him and follow him, they must first hate their father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters, and even their own life. But what is he really asking of us? He is saying that we have to but Him first before all things.
If our parents are stumbling blocks to coming to Jesus, we need to put them behind us. If our spouse or children turn away from the faith and try to get us to do the same, we need to put them behind us. Does it mean that we love them less and no longer hope for their conversion? No, it does not.
We must be prepared to carry our own crosses and, in some cases, as with martyrs, be ready to go to prison and for some, even ultimately to give up our lives for Jesus. In recent years, Father John Mark Cheitnum and Father Vitus Borogo were killed in 2022 and Father Chrostopher Odia and Father Joseph Akete Bako were killed in 2023. All four of these priests were killed in Nigeria. They all died for their faith.
Today, are we prepared to take up our cross and follow Jesus? Is He the most important thing in our lives? Are we willing to give up everything for Him?
Prayer to Live the Gospel, Be Disciples
Loving Father,
Open our hearts to hidden realities:
your love for all people,
your presence in the community,
your call to justice and peace.
May the sacraments stir in us
that same love for those with whom we worship
and all members of our human family.
Christ Jesus,
Help us to imitate your example:
healing the sick,
welcoming the stranger,
assisting the poor and vulnerable.
May the sacraments remind us
of your love and self-giving,
which we strive to imitate.
Holy Spirit,
Make visible to our eyes what is invisible:
your call to your people,
your summons to live our faith daily
as witnesses of justice and peace.
May the sacraments move us
to engage in love-inspired action
that transforms us and the world.
Amen