My son, when you come to serve the LORD,
stand in justice and fear,
prepare yourself for trials.
Be sincere of heart and steadfast,
incline your ear and receive the word of understanding,
undisturbed in time of adversity.
Wait on God, with patience, cling to him, forsake him not;
thus will you be wise in all your ways.
Accept whatever befalls you,
when sorrowful, be steadfast,
and in crushing misfortune be patient;
For in fire gold and silver are tested,
and worthy people in the crucible of humiliation.
Trust God and God will help you;
trust in him, and he will direct your way;
keep his fear and grow old therein.
You who fear the LORD, wait for his mercy,
turn not away lest you fall.
You who fear the LORD, trust him,
and your reward will not be lost.
You who fear the LORD, hope for good things,
for lasting joy and mercy.
You who fear the LORD, love him,
and your hearts will be enlightened.
Study the generations long past and understand;
has anyone hoped in the LORD and been disappointed?
Has anyone persevered in his commandments and been forsaken?
has anyone called upon him and been rebuffed?
Compassionate and merciful is the LORD;
he forgives sins, he saves in time of trouble
and he is a protector to all who seek him in truth. SIR 2:1-11
Sirach is a great book in the Bible to read for advice. It is a grandfather giving advice to his grandson about life.
Jesus and his disciples left from there and began a journey through Galilee,
but he did not wish anyone to know about it.
He was teaching his disciples and telling them,
“The Son of Man is to be handed over to men
and they will kill him,
and three days after his death the Son of Man will rise.”
But they did not understand the saying,
and they were afraid to question him.
They came to Capernaum and, once inside the house,
he began to ask them,
“What were you arguing about on the way?”
But they remained silent.
For they had been discussing among themselves on the way
who was the greatest.
Then he sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them,
“If anyone wishes to be first,
he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.”
Taking a child, he placed it in their midst,
and putting his arms around it, he said to them,
“Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me;
and whoever receives me,
receives not me but the One who sent me.” MK 9:30-37
Today, Jesus teaches us a lesson in humility. The symbol of the poor in spirit (those who recognize they need God and trust in Him) is a child. A child knows they can run to their mother or father for protection and trust they will always be there for them. They trust their parents for food, clothing, and shelter, sustenance. If a child is suffering, they trust their parents to comfort them. When we receive Jesus, we receive the Father. When we recognize we can’t do life on our own (even if we THINK we are the greatest) we fall to our knees and truly begin to pray in humility and recognize we need God. We receive Jesus and begin a relationship through prayer. We thirst for more because He fulfills us. As this relationship develops, we begin to trust the Word Jesus gives us and we become like a child who is comforted in the arms of the Father. Amazing, the Father who created out of nothing, is all powerful, and complete in Himself allows us to call Him Father. We are His sons and daughters adopted through baptism because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
Today’s challenge: God is the most humble, may we strive to be like Him.
Be a servant, become a saint!
#Christian YOLO
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