To serve is to be present in Jesus

The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Thursday in the Fourth Week of Easter, 12 May 2022
Acts 13:13-25   ><]]]]'> + <'[[[[><   John 13:16-20

Thank you, Lord Jesus Christ,
for this timely reminder in today's
gospel in being your true servant -
one who is always present in you,
and present for you.

When Jesus had washed the disciples’ feet, he said to them: “Amen, amen, I say to you, no slave is greater than his master nor any messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you understand this, blessed are you if you do it.”

John 13:16-17

Let us do your work of
loving service for one another,
dear Jesus by imitating you in
your humble presence with everyone,
especially enemies; let us be like you,
kind and magnanimous with everyone,
without any airs of superiority even if
you are our Master.

In this time of sadness and 
disappointment and failures,
let us look back to our own lives
like Paul in his preaching 
to see how God's providence
has always been at work in 
various key moments leading us
to something bigger and higher;
these experiences have always 
left us both with happy and painful
memories but you were always there
present with us.

Teach us to continue to be
present in you and for you 
in our loving service for others,
like John the Baptist heralding
your coming and your very
presence among us.  Amen.