This portion of Chapter Six of St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans poses a
very stark question, one we all must answer over and over again: Do we truly
serve God, or do we serve someone – or something – else? The words of Jesus
concerning this are equally stark and absolutely unambiguous: "No one can
serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he
will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and
mammon." (Matt. 6:24) In these words and in the words of Paul we are
confronted once again with one of the primary questions of the Bible, indeed,
one of the primary questions of human life: the question of idolatry.
The thirst for ultimate meaning is inherent in human nature; the hunger
for God is implanted in each of us. “Our
souls are restless until they rest in You,” says
When we truly serve God and apply the truth of the gospel to daily life, we become empowered and alive in Christ. Idols become things of the past, which no longer have power over us. We find that we no longer serve sin but have become servants of righteousness instead. If we can make a clear choice to serve God with all our hearts and souls, we will surely garner “the pearl of great price.” We will live in the Divine Presence for all eternity. In Christ we can do far more than we could ever imagine, says St. Paul in his Letter to the Ephesians: "Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, for ever and ever. Amen." (Eph.3:20-21)
We must never forget that when we choose idols, when we do not serve righteousness, our choices push us into a downward spiral, which ends in places of darkness and despair, far beyond what we can imagine. As we seek to serve Him with our whole hearts, we should joyfully recall that there are no boundaries to what God could accomplish in our lives. Let us reflect on what He has done for us already, and let us be thankful that through Christ Jesus we are offered peace and victory, that we are given the ability to become the servants of righteousness that He calls us to be.
Our moral obligation is not simply to acknowledge intellectually that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. It is to embrace Him fervently as Savior with all our powers and emotions. May I request that you ask yourself these questions? Are we Christians in the contemporary world responding fervently and devotedly and fearlessly to the moral responsibilities of the Christian faith? Do we believe in the powerful acts of God that were done by Jesus Christ as healer of the human race? Do we accept Jesus as our salvation and Redeemer in the way we are so clearly called to do in the synoptic Gospels? Finally, do we strive to embrace Him with our entire being as the Light of the World and our only entrance into life with the Heavenly Father? Are we doing these things? Do we as the body of believers really embrace Christ?
Father Benedict J. Groeschel, "The Reform of Renewal", pg. 83-84
1. Does our lifestyle reflect a servant of righteousness?
2. What are some areas that may hinder us to becoming a servant of righteousness?
3. How can we be a servant of righteousness?
My, God, I want to be deeply impressed by You and Your holy Will in my daily life. Teach me to live this life of mine in Your presence, sharing with You my thoughts, desires, and every activity throughout the day. Let me recognize and follow Your Will as it comes to me through people and events in my daily life. Amen.
-Anthony J. Paone, S.J., My Daily Bread, Brooklyn, N.Y., Confraternity Of The Precious Blood Of Jesus, Pg.55