A Few Words On "The Word"

September 23, 2007
The 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

Luke 16:10-13

Who Will You Serve?

Do you ever feel like you're being pulled in several different directions at once? I don't mean literally of course, but maybe you feel pressure coming from several people in your life. Your parents want you to make good grades and do your chores. Your teachers want you to turn in your homework. Your grandmother just wants you to be sweet. Our culture wants you to buy things and live a certain way. And your friends, well, sometimes your friends can pressure you the most.

This type of pressure can be really tough. Many people want what's best for us and therefore push us to be stronger. This isn't a bad thing but it can make us feel slightly overwhelmed. We want to please those around us and be accepted by our peers. Sometimes trying to please so many different people can be confusing, especially when we're being pulled in opposite directions.

Today's gospel provides an answer to the question of who we should strive to please. While expanding on a parable, Jesus calls us to serve God. Jesus realizes that so many of our earthly endeavors center on rather selfish drives. We know that God calls us to love and serve others, but sometimes it's hard to realize how we can both serve God and live up to the expectations of our parents or friends.

In the end we have to realize that serving and loving others is basically the same as serving and loving God. We simply have to decide who it is you're really going to serve. Then, when we're feeling a pull on all sides we can stop and ask ourselves which choice will serve God the best. If we're truly striving to serve God then our decisions become a little bit easier. Honoring out parents isn't quite as hard. Deciding not to succumb to peer pressure becomes slightly easier. Loving and serving oneself begins to fade away. Loving and serving others becomes our priority.

Reflection Question

In what ways do you feel pressure from several different sources? How can choosing to serve God help you decide what to do?

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