An Unselfish Friend
by Fr. David M. Knight
Sunday, January 28, 2024
Week IV in Ordinary Time
Lectionary No. 71
Deuteronomy 18:15–20; Psalm 95; 1 Corinthians 7:32–35; Mark 1:21-28
"A prophet like me will the Lord, your God, raise up for you from among your own kin." Deuteronomy 18:15
Being a prophet is a job. The Trinity sent God the Son to work for us: “not to be served but to serve” (Matthew 20:28). God himself works for us. We shouldn’t take that for granted.
Friends help each other. But how many spend their whole lives working for a friend—free? Jesus did. Jesus came to earth to serve us as Prophet, Priest, and the kind of King who, instead of asking his subjects to serve him, served them.
After washing their feet, he said… “Do as I have done to you… Whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant” (Matthew 20:25; John 13:12)
He came “to give his life as a ransom” so we might live.
Isn’t it true the only service Jesus asks of us is that we should serve one another? He said to all of us through Peter, “If you love me, feed my sheep” (John 21:17).
Doesn’t he feed us at every Mass? “Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life” (John 6:54).
Jesus sent us to give others the Good News, even if it kills us! (Matthew 10:9-27).
Friendship is interaction. Interact with Jesus and he will teach you to be unselfish.
ACTION: Count the unselfish things people do for you today. Recognize Jesus acting in them.
PRAYER: “Lord, do this with me, do this in me, do this through me.”
Reflections brought to you by the Immersed in Christ Ministry
