Mar 17: Serve One Another

Anonymous Irish Monk: Christ
The Book of Kells
Trinity College Library, Dublin, 8th or 9th cent.

Solemnity of Saint Patrick, bishop, patron of Ireland

First Reading: 1 Pet 4:7-11

Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received (NRSV, 1 Pet 4:10).

Father, your life is one of giving, receiving and sharing. You give life to your begotten but uncreated Son, the Word, and the Word and you share that life in Love who is the Holy Spirit who proceeds from you, Father, and the Word.

Through the Word, always present to us, at our innermost being, from the beginning in the womb, even when we turn away from you in sin, you challenge us at every moment to accept your life in the Holy Spirit.

The gift of your life, Father, manifests itself in us always in Love but, according to our particular situation, also in certain special gifts directed towards the service of others. As you share your life with the Word in Love, in our accepting of your gift of life through the Word, the Word challenges us to give ourselves completely to you, Father, in Love through him. The same challenge is directed also towards all of our sisters and brothers: that we love one another as well and that we serve one another with the particular gifts each of us has from you.

Father as you and the Word and the Holy Spirit are one, so also are all human beings called by their very nature, which is always super-nature, to be one with you and with one another, in the life that is offered to all, and in the mutual service to which we are called.

Through Christ our Lord. Amen