DAILY BECOME HEROIC

Isaiah 53:10-11; Ps 33 Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you; Hebrews 4:14-16; Mark 10:35-45

Here are a few words from John Paul II, a homily he gave for the canonization mass: "Heroism must become daily and daily must become heroic."


Think about those words.

Basically, John Paull II was inviting us to realize that heroic actions is not heroic simply because of the action but more importantly the motivation behind the action the why behind the what is what makes an action heroic.

Any action that is done with great love and faithfulness is heroic, it is laying down our life for another.

Simply put, laying down our life is primarily not about shedding blood but about giving of our time.  Every time we invest our time for the good of another with great love and faithfulness we allow heroism to become daily and daily to become heroic.

We cannot reduce heroism to the big sacrifices such as risking one's life.  These are good deeds certainly but usually they are one time events.  Truly heroic actions must be duplicated in our daily affairs. Again, daily must become heroic and heroism must become daily.

This is why Jesus reminds the Apostles and all of us that the greatest amongst us is the servant of all.

The highest honor bestowed upon us; the highest accolade to be achieved as a disciple is simply to be recognized as a servant, someone who gives unsparingly and untiringly for the good of the other, for the good of all.

Again we hear Jesus say the Son of Man has come to serve and not be served.

Every action that is done with greta love and faithfulness belongs to the servant.

Perhaps we think we have done our share of service.  Maybe we think we have already fulfilled our duty in volunteering.  Maybe we think we have done enough already.  But the truth be told there is only one who has done enough.  He is on the cross.  If we want to know what enough looks like then we must look at the crucifixion.  Until we do that, we have not done enough.

There is always more to do.

In fact St Paul reminds us that Jesus didn't stop with he cross.

Listen to his words, "So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for our time of need."

Jesus is still giving to us.  We approach him in confidence and he continues to bestow his grace and strength to us.  Even the cross is not enough for Him.  He continually gives and serves us in our need.

This should become our new paradigm.  The ultimate paradigm shift has occurred on calvary.  Jesus isn't done and neither should we be.

The greatest among you must be servant of all and then heroism becomes daily and daily becomes heroic.