Why Are You Here?

~~~ Saint Leo the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church ~~~

~~~ Wisdom 2:23–3:9 ~~~ Psalm 34 ~~~

~~~ Luke 17:7-10 ~~~

Growing up with the Baltimore Catechism,

there was one question always asked...

'Why are you here?'

The answer...'To know, love, and serve the Lord

 with our whole heart, mind, and body'.

Today the topic of service is highlighted in the Gospel.

When you have done all you have been commanded, say,

‘We are unprofitable servants;

we have done what we were obliged to do.’

You are called to serve the Lord...

to serve out of love.

Service to the Lord is not a bargaining chip.

Service to the Lord cannot be bought or traded.

Service to the Lord is something you do willingly...out of love.

From the moment you took your first breath 

you were one breath closer to your death.

The better you know the Lord...

the more you desire to love the Lord...

the more you love the Lord

the more you desire to serve him.

Serving the Lord must be done without expectations.

Serving the Lord must be done out love.

Serving the Lord must be carried out with a pure heart.

...as sacrificial offerings he took them to himself.

I pray that when your final days come,

 you may be able to offer back to God

 the very life he so freely gave to you.

I pray that your life of service to him 

will bring you into greater understanding...

an understanding of how well you served him,

but also an understanding of when you 

could have served him more completely.

You do not the hour in which God 

will call you to come back to him,

but until that time comes you 

can serve him in love.

Those who trust in him shall understand truth,

and the faithful shall abide with him in love

Know the Lord.

Love the Lord.

Serve the Lord.

Longing to here the words,

Well done my good and faithful 

servant.

Virtue is nothing without the trial of temptation,

for there is no conflict without an enemy,

no victory without strife.

Saint Leo the Great.

May the Lord Bless you

 and keep you from harm.

~~~ Peace ~~~

Who Does Your Household Serve?

~~~ Joshua 24:14-29 ~~~ Psalm 16 ~~~ Matthew 19:13-15 ~~~

 

As for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.

 

Joshua is asking the people to make a commitment.

Either you serve the Lord with me and my household

 or you serve the god of your fathers

or the god of the Amorites.

But you must chose.

You may not meander about with no allegiance to a god.

He was forcing them to think about what they wanted to believe.

They needed to make a personal choice.

 

Joshua proudly declares his decision.

 

The people quickly reject the idea of serving other gods.

They remember historically how the Lord had led them,

protected them, and provided for them.

For it was the LORD, our God,
who brought us and our fathers up out of the land of Egypt,
out of a state of slavery. 

 

Collectively the people announce their service to the God.
Joshua warns them that they must now put away all other gods.

 

 

They must now turn their hearts to the Lord also.
Just speaking the words of serving the Lord is not sufficient.
Words can be spoken without coming from the heart.

These words were spoken amidst the crowd;
they could be influenced by those standing beside them. 

 

 Joshua made a covenant with the people that day...
... he recorded in the book of the law of God.

...he took a large stone and set it up there under the oak...

Joshua said to all the people, "This stone shall be our witness,
for it has heard all the words which the LORD spoke to us..." 

 

Joshua placed the stone as a visible sign of their
commitment that day to the Lord. 

 

Have you made the choice for your house to serve the Lord?
Have you placed a visible sign
somewhere in your house as a reminder
of your commitment to the Lord? 

Jesus blesses the little children...
for me every time I see a little child it is a reminder
of the goodness of the Lord.
It reminds me that there truly is a God and that heaven is real.

Join the people of Joshua and claim your household in service to the Lord.
Make this promise with your words and with your heart. 

Blessings come in the total package...
a household dedicated to serving the Lord.