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Unless the Lord builds the house |
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Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.
It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.
Psalm 127:1-2
Jesus said, By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be my disciples (John 15:8). As disciples of Jesus, we are expected - not only to bear fruit - but to bear a lot! These fruits are the result of our service to others. But what can be defined as Christian service?
The key word in the phrase Christian service is Christian. The service we give should be centered on Christ. Again, Jesus said, As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me (John 15:4). Christian service is one where the source is Christ. It is not the result of human thought - but it has to be grounded in Jesus Christ.
The quoted psalm tells us that our work is useless unless it is built by the Lord. In vain we work and toil if what we do is not from the Lord. Mother Teresa was renowned because of her good works. The media calls her a saint because of her love for the poor. And many people try to imitate her - by fighting for social justice, against poverty and other worthy causes. However, what the media does not cover is Mother Teresas devotion to prayer.
Her community gets up early in the morning for mass and eucharistic adoration. It is only after their prayers that they go out for their good works. When I was reading her speeches, I found it quite interesting that she would ask people to pray that she will not destroy the work of the Lord.
She knows that her service is centered on the Lord and that is the reason why it has grown to such a successful community. Quite sadly, we see Christians running around in circles, trying to earn merits so they can go to heaven. We have to remember that we get to heaven because of the mercy and grace of God. Our good works are the fruits of our relationship with the Lord.
If what we do is not from the Lord, we labour in vain. It might succeed, but it will not last for long. We will get weary and in the end, it will fail. Even if what we do is from the Lord, we have to make sure that we do it in the way the Lord wants it done. It is spiritual arrogance to think that what we think of is from the Lord just because we think it is good. Undoubtedly, Mother Teresas work is from the Lord - undoubtedly, she is Gods powerful instrument while she was alive. Yet she did not trust in her capabilities but instead trusted in the Lord.
May we learn to distrust our capabilities - and instead trust only in the Lords goodness and mercy as we go out to serve others.
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