Serving Christ

Where do good world fit in our faith life?  If we can twin our way to heaven, why are we called to do these things?  There are those of other denominations who look down on us for emphasizing good works, so why do we feel we need to do them?

We do them as a way to draw ever closer to the Beloved.  We do this both by striving to become more and more like Him and by serving Him by serving others.  We can't make ourselves more like Him, He transforms us into His image.  We all have worked at times to serve others only to become bitter and unhappy with those we served, those are the times when we tried to change ourselves.  We didn't go with an open heart and open mind, looking for Christ in those we were serving and so it was hard and tedious.

When we go with an open heart and mind and look for Christ in those we serve, when we go truly to serve them, give ourselves to them, we are the ones transformed.  We are drawn closer to the one we love.  You know how you feel when you are going to see someone you love and to talk to them and be with them, you heart races a bit, you can't wait to get there, you feel a certain lightness in any work you do.  That is how it feels when you serve Christ in the world.  As St Francis said, that which was bitter became sweet.