Service

The custodian at the elementary school, Mr. Patton, is known for his hard work and upbeat attitude. “He cares about the building, he cares about the teachers, and he cares about the students,” says one teacher.

Recently, Mr. Patton got a surprise when he found the entire school gathered in the gym to honor him. The children offered many touching tributes: “Not only does he clean stuff, but he always brightens our day with funny jokes. Thank you, Mr. Patton!” Caught completely off guard, the custodian was moved to tears. 

Contrast Mr. Patton’s demeanor with that of James, the saint whose feast we celebrate today. He wants to follow Jesus. But like his brother, John, he seems to be expecting some kind of acclaim for it—like a seat right beside Jesus in the restored Israel. But Jesus brings him down to earth. The real leader is the one who serves, and serving doesn’t always bring the kind of recognition we’d like. For James, it meant decades spent evangelizing in Spain, followed by martyrdom. 

Sometimes, our attitude toward service needs to be readjusted as well. It’s natural to want to be noticed and praised, even though we know that God promises that the last will be first, and the first will be last. But even if we have mixed motives, it’s better to go out and try our best to serve the Lord rather than waiting to be perfect. This is what James did; it’s what all the apostles did. They didn’t let their imperfections hold them back. 

Don’t worry if you find yourself having mixed feelings. Just keep serving, and let God sort things out over time. Know that everything you do is important to him—everything! Just keep dedicating yourself and your work to the Lord. Try to adopt Mother Teresa’s practice of doing small things with great love. Even if there are times when you do small things with just a little bit of love, God will see it and bless it. Nothing is small to him—and neither are you.

from wau.org