Service and Sacrifice

Today's Readings:
First Reading: 2 Corinthians 4:7-15
Psalm 126
Gospel: Matthew 20:20-28

Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee approached him with her sons and did him homage, wishing to ask him for something.He said to her, "What do you wish?" She answered him, "Command that these sons of mine sit, one at your right and the otherat your left, in your kingdom." Jesus said in reply, "You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I am going drink?" They said to him, "We can." He replied, "My cup you will indeed drink, but to sit at my right and at my left, (this) is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father." When the ten heard this, they became indignant at the two brothers. But Jesus summoned them and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them,and the great ones make their authority over them felt. BUt it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be greatamong you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave. Just so, the Son of Man did notcome to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many."

"...the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many." Matthew 20:28

All of us have different callings or vocation. Some of us are called to the religious life, some called to single blessedness, and some to married life. But all these vocations have one thing in common: to be in the service of others.

Serving others entails responsibility and sacrifices. I, as a wife and a mother, have a responsibility towards my husband andmy child. To do that, there are certain things in life that I have to let go. I am a licensed Chemical Engineer, and was previously employed in my field in one of the multinational companies in the Philippines. But because my family is 2nd on my list (God is on the 1st), I left my job and joined my husband here in Japan. I know that I would have to let go of my career for the meantime if I want to help build a strong foundation for our marriage.

Raising our first child, Sam, also meant that I have to make little sacrifices - waking up in the middle of the night and in the wee hours of the morning to feed her, cut back on my time browsing the internet to take care of her, and stay at home full-time to simply be with her. And my, these sacrifices come with great rewards! Although our marriage is still young at one year and six months, I can say that we are happy together, because we have a strong prayer life and I am proud because God has kept us this way. Plus, I am able to witness our child's development and experience the joys of being a mother that working mothers do not have the opportunity of having.

I pray that I may be able to serve my family in the way I know how and in the way that God has planned for me so that Imay be able to serve Him through the persons that I love.

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