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LIBERATING SERVICE
27TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
OCTOBER 3
Recently I have read about an incident from the life of Bala Gangadara Tilak. He was one of the freedom fighters of India. He started his career as a schoolteacher. During the Independence Struggle, he entered the political ring. Slowly he became the right hand man of M.Gandhi. Once, in an Interview, he was asked, “Sir, If India gets her Independence, what position would you prefer in the Indian Administration? Do you want to become the President or the Prime Minister? His answer was a eye-opener to many. He said, “If India gets Independence, I would quit politics and go back to my village and continue my service as a school teacher…!” He continued, “I became a politician for my country, for my people but not for me. Once I have accomplished my mission, I should not remain in politics. I should move to other places where my service is most needed. ..”
Unconditional service is the highest expression of faith. Every religion shares this same view. For example, ‘Nishkama Karma’ (performing one’s duty detaching from its reward) is an important concept of Hindu Religious Philosophy. According to Hindu scripture, a disciple must “Do his duty and leaves the fruits to God”. Jesus teaches the same lesson when he said, “When you have done all you have been commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do’” (Lk 17:5-10). This is a difficult concept to grab as the desire for recognition and acknowledgment is very much rooted in human nature. Nonetheless, it is achievable for a person of faith. For, faith helps a person to rise above his human nature with its desires. Faith works in the following three ways.
1…A person of faith sees the gifted nature of everything॥God is not indebted to us but we are to Him। We are not owners but caretakers. Therefore, whatever we do, even in the form of service is only an expression of our gratitude for what we are and what we have today. Our ‘great works’ never exceed the goodness of the Lord. For this reason, our ability to respond to God’s graciousness in itself is our reward.
2…Faith in God instantly connects us with one another in a household relationship. We become the stewards of God’s family. We serve one another in our family not out of compulsion but out of love.
3… A person of Faith sees the deceptive nature of worldly things. Our Gospel readings for the last three weeks were about people who tried to build heaven with the material things. (Ref: Prodigal Son, Dishonest Steward, Richman and Lazarus). Wealth failed them in achieving their goals. People who look for reward unfortunately compromise with little. Blessings surround a person who serves out of love.
People who operate from the milieu of faith are capable of changing the world. Others, reward being their prime goal, do more harms than good. They compete and pull down anyone who seems do better than himself or herself. Real service is total giving, as Jesus did. Real service is liberating. A man can do a great deal in this world if he does not mind who takes the credit. (P.Parker) Often our service is possessive. We do not respect the freedom and the ability of the receiver. We make the object of our service our life project. The act of the Good Samaritan is the perfect model of service. Once his role was over, he allowed the man to go on his own way.
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A pig was lamenting his lack of popularity. He complained to the cow that people were always talking about the cow’s gentleness and kindness. The pig admitted that the cow gave milk and cream, but maintained that pigs gave more. “We the pigs give bacon and ham and bristles and people even pickle our feet. I don’t see why you cows are esteemed so much more”, the pig complained. The cow thought awhile and said gently, “May be it’s because we give while we are still living.”
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LIBERATING SERVICE
27TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
OCTOBER 3
Recently I have read about an incident from the life of Bala Gangadara Tilak. He was one of the freedom fighters of India. He started his career as a schoolteacher. During the Independence Struggle, he entered the political ring. Slowly he became the right hand man of M.Gandhi. Once, in an Interview, he was asked, “Sir, If India gets her Independence, what position would you prefer in the Indian Administration? Do you want to become the President or the Prime Minister? His answer was a eye-opener to many. He said, “If India gets Independence, I would quit politics and go back to my village and continue my service as a school teacher…!” He continued, “I became a politician for my country, for my people but not for me. Once I have accomplished my mission, I should not remain in politics. I should move to other places where my service is most needed. ..”
Unconditional service is the highest expression of faith. Every religion shares this same view. For example, ‘Nishkama Karma’ (performing one’s duty detaching from its reward) is an important concept of Hindu Religious Philosophy. According to Hindu scripture, a disciple must “Do his duty and leaves the fruits to God”. Jesus teaches the same lesson when he said, “When you have done all you have been commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do’” (Lk 17:5-10). This is a difficult concept to grab as the desire for recognition and acknowledgment is very much rooted in human nature. Nonetheless, it is achievable for a person of faith. For, faith helps a person to rise above his human nature with its desires. Faith works in the following three ways.
1…A person of faith sees the gifted nature of everything॥God is not indebted to us but we are to Him। We are not owners but caretakers. Therefore, whatever we do, even in the form of service is only an expression of our gratitude for what we are and what we have today. Our ‘great works’ never exceed the goodness of the Lord. For this reason, our ability to respond to God’s graciousness in itself is our reward.
2…Faith in God instantly connects us with one another in a household relationship. We become the stewards of God’s family. We serve one another in our family not out of compulsion but out of love.
3… A person of Faith sees the deceptive nature of worldly things. Our Gospel readings for the last three weeks were about people who tried to build heaven with the material things. (Ref: Prodigal Son, Dishonest Steward, Richman and Lazarus). Wealth failed them in achieving their goals. People who look for reward unfortunately compromise with little. Blessings surround a person who serves out of love.
People who operate from the milieu of faith are capable of changing the world. Others, reward being their prime goal, do more harms than good. They compete and pull down anyone who seems do better than himself or herself. Real service is total giving, as Jesus did. Real service is liberating. A man can do a great deal in this world if he does not mind who takes the credit. (P.Parker) Often our service is possessive. We do not respect the freedom and the ability of the receiver. We make the object of our service our life project. The act of the Good Samaritan is the perfect model of service. Once his role was over, he allowed the man to go on his own way.
========================================================
A pig was lamenting his lack of popularity. He complained to the cow that people were always talking about the cow’s gentleness and kindness. The pig admitted that the cow gave milk and cream, but maintained that pigs gave more. “We the pigs give bacon and ham and bristles and people even pickle our feet. I don’t see why you cows are esteemed so much more”, the pig complained. The cow thought awhile and said gently, “May be it’s because we give while we are still living.”
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