WSC Reflection Guide 10/20-26/2024

TO TRULY SERVE IS TO BE LIKE CHRIST, OUR SERVANT KING.

Word Sharing Circle (WSC) Reflection Guide

October 20, 2024 (Cycle B, Yr. II) – 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Community Word: Following God’s will leads us to the glory of His Kingdom.

Theme: We are led to God’s Kingdom when we humbly serve without counting the cost.

Promise: “If he gives his life as an offering…the will of the Lord shall be accomplished through him.” (Is 53:10b)

Reflection:

We are led to God’s Kingdom when we humbly serve without counting the cost. Our theme tells us that our faith journey towards God’s Kingdom should be in the way of true love and true service. Jesus describes this in the gospel of Mark – “…whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all.  For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many,” (Mk 10:43b-45). Jesus gives us the perfect example of how we are to serve and follow Him. 

Servanthood, suffering and redemption, these are seen in the life of Jesus and are applicable to us. In the 1st reading, the Prophet Isaiah describes how the sufferings of Jesus lead to the justification of all. Psalms remind us that the Lord delivers us from death. In the letter to the Hebrews, Jesus is the great High Priest who in His humanity entered into God’s presence in order to dispense graces to us. And, in the Gospel, Jesus teaches James and John that honor and glory comes from being a suffering servant and not from being served or acquiring special places of prestige. 

Authentic disciples will undergo suffering and detachment while serving the Lord, just like Jesus who came to offer His life that we may be restored to the Father. He experienced temptation, humiliation, rejection and death on the cross, interceding for us that we may receive God’s perfect love, grace, mercy and forgiveness. And because of this, even if we undergo pain, discomfort and difficulties, God grants us hope, encouragement, and inspiration to be faithful. Our place in heaven is secured when we are suffering servants like Christ. This is clear when Jesus told James and John, “…To sit at my right or at my left is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared,” (Mk 10: 40).  

Reflecting on what our Lord Jesus has done should open our eyes and motivate us to true discipleship. If we want to share in the joyful blessings of God, we must be willing to follow our Master-Teacher in living out our faith through service and shepherding others. Instead of expecting to be served and thinking only of ourselves, we should think of others first and see how we can bring them to experience God’s love and serve them. The call to die to self may be disconcerting, but it is the only way to truly serve our Servant King and be united in Him. In this, we might receive this promise, “If he gives his life as an offering…the will of the Lord shall be accomplished through him,” (Is 53:10b).    

Today is World Mission Sunday. Let us help spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ to every heart, nation and people. 

Prayer:

Lord God, grant me the grace to serve you wholeheartedly, without counting the cost, to remain humble in my service and truly care for others.  Whenever I am tempted to seek a place of honor, help me to remember how your Son Jesus died to save me from my sin. By the power of your Holy Spirit, inspire me to be a servant for others, even in my inconvenience, discomfort, suffering, and difficulties.  Through Christ, our Lord. Amen. 

Reflection Guide Questions:

1. What are the reasons why I serve in the community? Am I inspired by the example of Jesus during His ministry on how he gave up everything to be of service to mankind? 

2. Do I seek to be served more than to serve? How can I be of true service to those I encounter at my home, in my work, in community, in unexpected places?

This  Week's Daily Mass Reading Guide:

Oct 20, 2024 (Sun) – Is 53:10, 11/ Ps 33:4, 5, 18-20, 22/ Heb 4:14-16/ Mk 10:35-45

Oct 21, 2024 (Mon – Eph 2:1-10/ Ps 100:1-5/ Lk 12:13-21

Oct 22, 2024 (Tue) – Eph 2:12-22/ Ps 85:9-10, 11-14/ Lk 12:35-38

Oct 23, 2024 (Wed) – Eph 3:2-12/ Is 12:2-6/ Lk 12:39-48

Oct 24, 2024 (Thu) – Eph 3:14-21/ Ps 33:1, 2, 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19/ Lk 12:49-53

Oct 25, 2024 (Fri) – Eph 4:1-6/ Ps 24:1-6/ Lk 12:54-59

Oct 26, 2024 (Sat) – Eph 4:7-16/ Ps 122:1-5/ Lk 13:1-9

“Ignorance of the Bible is ignorance of Christ.  Read your Bible daily!” 

 Council of Servant Leaders

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Alfred S. Kudemus

CSL Secretariat

BLD Catholic Charismatic Covenant Community

"Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:16