Holy Thursday - To Serve is to be ourselves

 Recently I saw a video on TikTok. The speaker was relating how a teacher had the classroom of kids each blow up a balloon and write their name on it. Then all the balloons were collected and placed into the hallway. The kids were told they had 5 minutes to find their own balloon.  Only a few did. Then the balloons were again placed out into the hallway, and this time the teacher said, the first balloon you pick up, read the name on it and give it to that person. By the end, all had their respective balloons. The moral of the story; trying to find your own happiness does not often work; but when we help others to find theirs, we can find ours too.

Now replace the word happiness with joy, and we come to the Christian sense of what we celebrate tonight, and live always.

A continuing struggle with Jesus’ disciples and in general with the people: what kind of messiah was he?

Some thought he was the political messiah, the one who would really be king, would restore Israel to its gloried past, and kick out the Romans.

Some thought he would come and cleanse the Temple and its worship, so that there would be true “worship” rituals in the Temple.

Others considered him the miracle worker, the one who could cure.

Jesus resisted all of this. He remained to who he truly was as the Messiah; the Messiah who serves.  The Messiah who gives of himself for all. The Messiah who loves; and by doing so reveals this is God’s very nature. God serves, God gives of God’s self, God loves. 

Even until the Last Supper, the Disciples still mis-understood Jesus. So what does Jesus do? He sets the stage for his final act of revelation, the ultimate act of service and love…he humbles himself again, and washes the feet of his disciples. He makes an incredible, powerful statement of his intent and nature.

Peter gets it, and it scares him. He resists, he doesn’t want to be the server, this was not who he wanted Jesus to be this is not who he, Peter, wants to be, this is not how the world operates.

Imagine the look that Jesus must have given him; looking up at Peter, from a lowered posture. I don’t think it was angry, or sad, but inviting. Yet, also very clear with his words: if Peter will not serve, he will not understand Jesus, and if he will not understand Jesus how can he live for the Kingdom of God.

When couples come in to begin the formation and process to marry in the Church, one of the questions I give is:  What is the goal of marriage? Most struggle with the answer and I will give clues. They often go to children, happiness, togetherness…and I explain those are just a means to the end. Every once in a while, one will get the answer clearly.

The goal of marriage is the goal of life: all persons are called to holiness. All persons are called to be saints, to be and become the best versions of themselves as God created us to be. The Goal of life, marriage, is holiness,

The Sacrament of Matrimony makes visible this call and how this call is lived out; in giving of oneself to another.  A husband and wife, equals, give of their being into marriage to each other. They serve one another. They help each other become the best versions of themselves; saints, holy women and men. In this service of love, each becomes truly who they are. Identities don’t get lost in marriage, but grow, develop and are found in marriage.

Service to others is the nature of us; and especially to us as Catholic-Christians. Helping others, walking with others, to help others find joy in this life, also helps us to find our joy as well.

Joy, not happiness.  Joy is deeper; it is that hope and trust that God is present and remains present, leading us to a fuller life. Joy is that trust that somehow it will get better.

God desires us to have joy, to find joy, to live joy. God the Father, so desirous of us to experience this and the Son knowing this and wanting it too, gives of himself to become human. Jesus shows us this by his very life, by his service, by his self-emptying, even unto the Cross.

And the Resurrection is that Joy made real for us.

Those who serve others, whether in marriage, whether in religious life as sister, brother, deacon, priest and bishop, all those who who serve with their hearts; those who serve others through charity and kindness, outreach and compassion….we can see true joy.

Giving, serving, this is of God, therefore it is part of us as Children of God.

Jesus did not come to rule, or control, or dominate… if we believe this, we have misunderstood him.

Jesus gave of himself with love, out of love. We signify this in our Eucharist, which captures the meaning of his Paschal Mystery. Christ is given to us again and again, and again. All in Love

We receive him, again and again, and again, all with love.

And we go out into the world, full of the divine love, full of that divine grace, to give of ourselves…

To grow as wives and husbands, as priests, deacons, as friends, family; as Catholics, Christians, as human persons.

And as we grow in this, we become the holy persons God wishes, and we experience the Joy that comes  with it.