Sacred Scripture
When Jesus had washed the disciples’ feet, he said to them: “Amen, amen, I say to you, no slave is greater than his master nor any messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you understand this, blessed are you if you do it. I am not speaking of all of you. I know those whom I have chosen. But so that the Scripture might be fulfilled, the one who ate my food has raised his heel against me. From now on I am telling you before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe that I AM. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.” (John 13: 16-20)
Reflection
Are you happy? Do you feel the love of those who love you?
Or is there an emptiness inside of you? A feeling of never feeling fulfilled. A feeling that life marches on but you don’t hear the music.
An entire “get happy” industry has been created to make happy people happier and the not so happy feeling better. Millions have been made by the gurus of happiness.
Yet, the key to genuine happiness has always been there for you and me. It lies in the words of today’s scripture.
Jesus’ whole life was a picture of loving service. He fulfilled His Father’s will by dying on the cross for our salvation. The Love of God is our model. Jesus said, “Love one another as I have loved you”. To do that, we have to learn to reject hatred and betrayal and become a source of joy and compassion. The Lord promises that if we follow His will and learn how to sacrifice, we will find true happiness which no one can take away from us. This love binds us together and leads us to service to those who are in need.
Jesus invites us to be servers, people who wash the feet of others. This is meant to tell you that in life, you must help others live a better life. To be a server is just that, help others to solve their problems, help soften the road of others, help others keep walking in life.
There is a fine point that we need to remember. Jesus calls us to serve others but not be a servant. Because if you assume the servant attitude, you can lose your personality, you can become a photocopy of another person, or you abandon yourself.
The service you give others is a product of your freedom, you do it not because you are compelled, but because you want. You have a beautiful life to lead, you have plenty to give others, and there are a lot of people that are waiting for you to help. They know what you can give. You must be the one with a clear idea of what you can give, but you must not forget who you are.
Jesus reminds us that the greatest wish we can have is to be happy. Knowing who you are, giving yourself to others as you are, you can accomplish all. If you search for happiness, it will help you greatly in heaven. Do not stop giving, being generous with your time, lending your ears and being yourself. The clues to happiness you will find inside yourself and in others, serve and discover the best things in life.
Prayer of The Day
“I want to believe and follow you, Lord Jesus, but it is difficult for me at times to understand how I am to act and speak as your disciple in the circumstances of my day. I believe in you, Jesus; help my unbelief. Help me to understand that when I serve others, I serve you.”
Daily Note
A Christian who grasps the meaning of Easter, who lives a new life in communion with the Lord, is a Christian who’s singing with joy even in the midst of challenge and hardship, and that’s the type of hymn the Lord wants all of us to be singing each day in chorus. If we’re truly united in Christ, who came so that his joy may be in us and our joy be complete, how can we not bring his joy when we give that word of encouragement and sing the Lord’s goodness? To give this word of exhortation, to sing the goodness of the Lord, to proclaim his faithfulness, to continue Jesus’ mission as his personal ambassadors, this is meant to become the driving force of Christian life. We must make the effort that Christian missionary work requires.
