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Saturday, August 18, 2001

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St. Jane Frances de Chantal


Joshua 24:14-29
Psalm 16
Matthew 19:13-15

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going into the service?

"As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord." —Joshua 24:15

When Joshua died, he was described as a "servant of the Lord" (Jos 24:29). Jesus came not to be served but to serve (Mt 20:28). We, who are Jesus' followers, live to serve. We pray to our Father in the second eucharistic prayer: "We thank You for counting us worthy to stand in Your presence and serve You."

To serve the Lord, we must:

  • "fear the Lord" (Jos 24:14),
  • serve Him completely, sincerely (Jos 24:14), and joyfully (Ps 100:2),
  • try to serve not in isolation but as a member of a household and Christian community (see Jos 24:15),
  • receive God's grace, for we are not able to serve Him by our human power (Jos 24:19),
  • decide not to serve ourselves or other gods (Jos 24:15), and
  • make a decision to serve Him (Jos 24:15, 22).

Will you and your household choose right now to serve the Lord by His standards? Jesus served us to the point of dying on the cross for us (Mt 20:28). Will you serve and live for Him Who served to the point of dying for you? Decide now.

Prayer:  Father, I thank You forever for the privilege of serving you.

Promise:  "Children were brought to Him so that He could place His hands on them in prayer." —Mt 19:13

Praise:  St. Jane Frances served faithfully as wife, mother, religious, and foundress, serving God and her neighbor.

Nihil Obstat:  Reverend Ralph J. Lawrence, February 13, 2001


Imprimatur:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, February 20, 2001