GOD'S SERVANT

“I AM GOD’S SERVANT.” This is how I consider myself after reflecting on what Rev. Fr. Teilhard de Cardin, SJ, has said about REVELATION. According to him Revelation is “MAN’S UNDERSTANDING OF WHO HE IS IN RELATION TO GOD.” He further said that in approaching a theology of salvation history “We should not make the mistake of understanding revelation somehow simply as God’s whispering to man who he is, by way of propositional statements about Himself primarily, and about other things in relation to Himself.”

For quite some time I have been asking myself the question: ”WHO AM I IN RELATION TO GOD?”

In the ‘Catechism for Filipino Catholics’ I have learned that by the grace of the Sacrament of Baptism I have become an ADOPTED SON of GOD. This, indeed, is the dignity bestowed on all baptized persons which make them all equal in the eyes of God.

On further reflection, when I consider my relationship with God from the viewpoint of the task that I should undertake according to HIS HOLY WILL, I prefer to look at myself as GOD’S SERVANT.

Christ Himself stated in Matthew 20:28 “…the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

It is also said that the reason for Lucifer’s Downfall is because he did not like to serve (‘Non Serviam’) when he was given a task to undertake.

To my mind, the reason for my existence is TO DO THE WILL OF GOD. This is evident from what Christ Himself said in the Prayer He taught us: ‘Thy Will be done on earth as it is in heaven’.

When performing a task I choose to have the attitude of a true servant rather than that of a child for the following reasons:

1. A servant is focused on his job, while a child may be over conscious of his closeness to his parents which may somehow affect his effectiveness in doing the job.

2. A servant is conscious of his responsibility to do the job well in order to earn the approval of his master. A child, on the other hand, may take it easy, aware that his parents will always love him, even if the job is not done well.

3. A servant is aware that his task is TO SERVE, while a child may be basking on his personal relationship with his parents and thus relegate as secondary whatever he may be asked to do.

In short, a child may be more status oriented while a servant is more job oriented.

While I do value my status as a Child of God, I, nevertheless, consider it a great privilege to be used by God as His instrument in Doing His Holy Will. Hence, for me, I consider it a greater joy to be God’s Servant by Doing His Holy Will now and for all eternity.

by: Buddy Cagurangan
August 7, 2011