Saturday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time
I don’t need my kids help to make pancakes. In fact the whole thing is far more efficient without their help. But it is better when I let them help. I have trouble remembering that, which is why a sign hangs in our kitchen that reads, “Fat Souls are Better than Clean Floors.” My kids don’t need that sign, they don’t understand why we don’t always want batter flinging little wrecking balls trying to help. Despite our trepidation, we invite them to help. God does the same thing for us and I don’t always understand why.
God’s invitation to be involved struck me in today’s first reading. Fourteen times the passage from Joshua uses some form of the word “serve” to indicate worship and dedication to God. Many of us likely have the famous line from this passage hanging in our homes, “As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” But why does God need our service? God is all powerful, knowing, and present. God is perfect. Yet we are reminded by our ancient forefathers that serving the Lord is part of our worship of the Lord.
This challenges the paradigm I so easily slide into. I make worship about the thanks I offer God in word and song, and then turn to God to serve me. But I am being reinvited to childlike faith. God doesn’t need my help, but as a parent invites children to help make pancakes, God invites us to help build the kingdom. As our Father I think God knew long before us that Fat Souls Are Better than Clean Floors.
“Lord, help me hear and see how I’m being called to serve you today.”
- Spencer Hargadon