Mass Reflection: Sunday - 26th November 2023

EZ 34:11-12, 15-17; PS 23:1-3, 5-6; 1 COR 15:20-26, 28; MT 25:31-46

Today we come to the end of the liturgical year, celebrating the magnificent feast of the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. Our readings provide contrasting images of this King of ours — He has authority over all, and yet, He is humble and tender in His care for us, especially the most vulnerable. How can we properly honor and love such a King? By offering Him our very lives through the stewardship way of life.
 
Our First Reading, from Ezekiel, describes our Lord as a tender shepherd who knows his flock intimately and actively seeks to heal and save us. “Thus says the Lord God: I myself will look after and tend my sheep… I myself will pasture my sheep; I myself will give them rest… The lost I will seek out, the strayed I will bring back, the injured I will bind up, the sick I will heal.” Such love is impossible to fully comprehend. All we can do is marvel at the greatness of our God and resolve to thank Him by giving Him the very best of ourselves — our time, our talents, our treasure — and by imitating His love as best we can.
 
The Second Reading demonstrates that humble as He is, Jesus Christ is indeed King of all, having authority over all, both individuals and nations, both the material world and the spiritual world. He will restore all things and all people to proper order “when he hands over the kingdom to his God and Father, when he has destroyed every sovereignty and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.” As intimately as we are called to love our King, so too, must we revere and respect His authority over us. We must be ever mindful that everything we have, every breath we take, is a gift from this all-powerful King. In justice, then, we must give Him His due. 
 
What is it that He expects from us? The Gospel passage from Matthew shows us. The passage begins with Christ’s own description of His Second Coming, “When the Son of Man comes in his glory and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne, and all the nations will be assembled before him.” Then the moment of judgment will come. Some will be invited into the Kingdom of Heaven — the others to eternal punishment. 
 
This judgment will be based not on how influential we became in society, how high we climbed the corporate ladder, or any “worldly” achievements. Rather our judgment will be based on how we treated the last of those around us, whom Jesus calls His brothers. “Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of the least brothers of mine, you did for me.” To make His point very clear, Jesus gives specifics — feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, showing hospitality to the stranger, and caring for the ill and imprisoned. These are the priorities of our King. And these must be our priorities, too.
 
The more deeply we embrace the stewardship way of life, the more closely our priorities will align with His. This way of life prepares us well for our judgment day and helps us to live in imitation of our King right now. 

Mass Rerading: Sunday - 26th November 2023

First reading
Ezekiel 34:11-12,15-17
The Lord will judge between sheep and sheep

    The Lord says this: I am going to look after my flock myself and keep all of it in view. As a shepherd keeps all his flock in view when he stands up in the middle of his scattered sheep, so shall I keep my sheep in view. I shall rescue them from wherever they have been scattered during the mist and darkness. I myself will pasture my sheep, I myself will show them where to rest – it is the Lord who speaks. I shall look for the lost one, bring back the stray, bandage the wounded and make the weak strong. I shall watch over the fat and healthy. I shall be a true shepherd to them.

    As for you, my sheep, the Lord says this: I will judge between sheep and sheep, between rams and he-goats.

The word of the Lord.

________

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 22(23):1-3a,5-6

The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

The Lord is my shepherd;
    there is nothing I shall want.
Fresh and green are the pastures
    where he gives me repose.

The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

Near restful waters he leads me,
    to revive my drooping spirit.
He guides me along the right path;
    he is true to his name.

The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

You have prepared a banquet for me
    in the sight of my foes.
My head you have anointed with oil;
    my cup is overflowing.

The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

Surely goodness and kindness shall follow me
    all the days of my life.
In the Lord’s own house shall I dwell
    for ever and ever.

The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

________

Second reading
1 Corinthians 15:20-26,28
Christ will hand over the kingdom to God the Father; so that God may be all in all

    Christ has been raised from the dead, the first-fruits of all who have fallen asleep. Death came through one man and in the same way the resurrection of the dead has come through one man. Just as all men die in Adam, so all men will be brought to life in Christ; but all of them in their proper order: Christ as the first-fruits and then, after the coming of Christ, those who belong to him. After that will come the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, having done away with every sovereignty, authority and power. For he must be king until he has put all his enemies under his feet and the last of the enemies to be destroyed is death, for everything is to be put under his feet. And when everything is subjected to him, then the Son himself will be subject in his turn to the One who subjected all things to him, so that God may be all in all.

The word of the Lord.

________

Gospel Acclamation
Mk11:10

Alleluia, alleluia!

Blessings on him who comes in the name of the Lord!
Blessings on the coming kingdom of our father David!

Alleluia!

________

Gospel
Matthew 25:31-46
I was naked and you clothed me; sick, and you visited me

    Jesus said to his disciples: ‘When the Son of Man comes in his glory, escorted by all the angels, then he will take his seat on his throne of glory. All the nations will be assembled before him and he will separate men one from another as the shepherd separates sheep from goats. He will place the sheep on his right hand and the goats on his left.

    ‘Then the King will say to those on his right hand, “Come, you whom my Father has blessed, take for your heritage the kingdom prepared for you since the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave me drink; I was a stranger and you made me welcome; naked and you clothed me, sick and you visited me, in prison and you came to see me.” Then the virtuous will say to him in reply, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you; or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and make you welcome; naked and clothe you; sick or in prison and go to see you?” And the King will answer, “I tell you solemnly, in so far as you did this to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me.”

    ‘Next he will say to those on his left hand, “Go away from me, with your curse upon you, to the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you never gave me food; I was thirsty and you never gave me anything to drink; I was a stranger and you never made me welcome, naked and you never clothed me, sick and in prison and you never visited me.” Then it will be their turn to ask, “Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty, a stranger or naked, sick or in prison, and did not come to your help?” Then he will answer, “I tell you solemnly, in so far as you neglected to do this to one of the least of these, you neglected to do it to me.”

    ‘And they will go away to eternal punishment, and the virtuous to eternal life.’

The Gospel of the Lord.

Mass Reading: Sunday - 19th November 2023

First reading
Proverbs 31:10-13,19-20,30-31
A perfect wife - who can find her?

A perfect wife – who can find her?
    She is far beyond the price of pearls.
Her husband’s heart has confidence in her,
    from her he will derive no little profit.
Advantage and not hurt she brings him
    all the days of her life.
She is always busy with wool and with flax,
    she does her work with eager hands.
She sets her hands to the distaff,
    her fingers grasp the spindle.
She holds out her hand to the poor,
    she opens her arms to the needy.
Charm is deceitful, and beauty empty;
    the woman who is wise is the one to praise.
Give her a share in what her hands have worked for,
    and let her works tell her praises at the city gates.

The word of the Lord.

________

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 127(128):1-5

O blessed are those who fear the Lord.

O blessed are those who fear the Lord
    and walk in his ways!
By the labour of your hands you shall eat.
    You will be happy and prosper.

O blessed are those who fear the Lord.

Your wife will be like a fruitful vine
    in the heart of your house;
your children like shoots of the olive,
    around your table.

O blessed are those who fear the Lord.

Indeed thus shall be blessed
    the man who fears the Lord.
May the Lord bless you from Zion
    all the days of your life!

O blessed are those who fear the Lord.

________

Second reading
1 Thessalonians 5:1-6
God will bring with him those who have died in Jesus

    You will not be expecting us to write anything to you, brothers, about ‘times and seasons’, since you know very well that the Day of the Lord is going to come like a thief in the night. It is when people are saying, ‘How quiet and peaceful it is’ that the worst suddenly happens, as suddenly as labour pains come on a pregnant woman; and there will be no way for anybody to evade it.

    But it is not as if you live in the dark, my brothers, for that Day to overtake you like a thief. No, you are all sons of light and sons of the day: we do not belong to the night or to darkness, so we should not go on sleeping, as everyone else does, but stay wide awake and sober.

The word of the Lord.

________

Gospel Acclamation
Rv2:10

Alleluia, alleluia!

Even if you have to die, says the Lord,
keep faithful, and I will give you
the crown of life.

Alleluia!

Or:
Jn15:4,5

Alleluia, alleluia!

Make your home in me, as I make mine in you.
Whoever remains in me bears fruit in plenty.

Alleluia!

________

Gospel
Matthew 25:14-30
You have been faithful in small things: come and join in your master's happiness

    Jesus spoke this parable to his disciples: ‘The kingdom of Heaven is like a man on his way abroad who summoned his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to a third one; each in proportion to his ability. Then he set out.

    ‘The man who had received the five talents promptly went and traded with them and made five more. The man who had received two made two more in the same way. But the man who had received one went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

    ‘Now a long time after, the master of those servants came back and went through his accounts with them. The man who had received the five talents came forward bringing five more. “Sir,” he said “you entrusted me with five talents; here are five more that I have made.”

    ‘His master said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you have shown you can be faithful in small things, I will trust you with greater; come and join in your master’s happiness.”

    ‘Next the man with the two talents came forward. “Sir,” he said “you entrusted me with two talents; here are two more that I have made.” His master said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you have shown you can be faithful in small things, I will trust you with greater; come and join in your master’s happiness.”

    ‘Last came forward the man who had the one talent. “Sir,” said he “I had heard you were a hard man, reaping where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered; so I was afraid, and I went off and hid your talent in the ground. Here it is; it was yours, you have it back.” But his master answered him, “You wicked and lazy servant! So you knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered? Well then, you should have deposited my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have recovered my capital with interest. So now, take the talent from him and give it to the man who has the five talents. For to everyone who has will be given more, and he will have more than enough; but from the man who has not, even what he has will be taken away. As for this good-for-nothing servant, throw him out into the dark, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.”’

The Gospel of the Lord.

Mass Reflection: Sunday - 19th November 2023

PRV 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31; PS 128:2-5; 1 THES 5:1-6; MT 25:14-30

Today’s readings challenge us to live not for the "here and now," but rather with eternity in mind. We are reminded that we will be called one day to give an account for the gifts God has given us — our physical, intellectual and material gifts — as well as the gift of time itself. We must examine our lives to determine whether we are making the best use of our gifts with the time we have been given to use them.
 
St. Paul gives us a wonderful lens through which to do this type of self-examination, in our Second Reading from 1 Thessalonians. He reminds us of our true identity as disciples of Christ. “All of you are... children of the day. We are not of the night or of darkness. Therefore, let us not sleep as the rest do, but let us stay alert and sober.” We are to live in a way that is counter to the prevailing wisdom, living not for ourselves and for the pleasure of immediate gratification, but rather to advance the Kingdom of Heaven.
 
Jesus illustrates this Kingdom-oriented way of living in our Gospel passage from Matthew. He tells the parable of a wealthy man who is about to go on a journey. Before he leaves, the man calls his three servants to “entrust his possessions to them.” This should sound familiar. As Christian stewards, we know that all the gifts we have been given are, in truth, the possessions of our Heavenly Father, who has entrusted them to us for our good and His glory. 
 
The master in our parable gives to the care of each servant a portion of his money (“talent”) commensurate with that servant’s abilities. He then goes off and we learn what those three servants do with the talents they have been given. The first two prove to be good and faithful servants — they “immediately” put the talents to use, doubling what had been entrusted to them. The third servant reacted to this responsibility with fear. He did not make an effort to use the talent entrusted him. In fact, he did the opposite — he hid the master’s talent, burying it in the ground. He took the safe way, the easy way out.
 
What a tragic response!
 
This servant did not understand his master at all. He failed to see what a privilege he had been given, what an opportunity he had squandered. The master wanted to give all his servants the joy and satisfaction of helping him grow his kingdom. This is what our Heavenly Father wants for us, too — the incredible privilege of helping to advance the coming of the Kingdom of God.
 
Let us embrace the stewardship way of life, using all the gifts entrusted to us — Time, Talent, and Treasure — in such a way that at the end of our life on this earth, we will hear these words from our Father: “Well done, my good and faithful servant… Come, share your master’s joy.”

Mass Reading: Sunday - 12th November 2023

First reading
Wisdom 6:12-16
Wisdom is found by those who look for her

Wisdom is bright, and does not grow dim.
By those who love her she is readily seen,
and found by those who look for her.
Quick to anticipate those who desire her, she makes herself known to them.
Watch for her early and you will have no trouble;
you will find her sitting at your gates.
Even to think about her is understanding fully grown;
be on the alert for her and anxiety will quickly leave you.
She herself walks about looking for those who are worthy of her
and graciously shows herself to them as they go,
in every thought of theirs coming to meet them.

The word of the Lord.

________

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 62(63):2-8

For you my soul is thirsting, O God, my God.

O God, you are my God, for you I long;
    for you my soul is thirsting.
My body pines for you
    like a dry, weary land without water.

For you my soul is thirsting, O God, my God.

So I gaze on you in the sanctuary
    to see your strength and your glory.
For your love is better than life,
    my lips will speak your praise. 

For you my soul is thirsting, O God, my God.

So I will bless you all my life,
    in your name I will lift up my hands.
My soul shall be filled as with a banquet,
    my mouth shall praise you with joy. 

For you my soul is thirsting, O God, my God.

On my bed I remember you.
    On you I muse through the night
for you have been my help;
    in the shadow of your wings I rejoice.

For you my soul is thirsting, O God, my God.

________

Second reading
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Do not grieve about those who have died in Jesus

We want you to be quite certain, brothers, about those who have died, to make sure that you do not grieve about them, like the other people who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again, and that it will be the same for those who have died in Jesus: God will bring them with him. We can tell you this from the Lord’s own teaching, that any of us who are left alive until the Lord’s coming will not have any advantage over those who have died. At the trumpet of God, the voice of the archangel will call out the command and the Lord himself will come down from heaven; those who have died in Christ will be the first to rise, and then those of us who are still alive will be taken up in the clouds, together with them; to meet the Lord in the air. So we shall stay with the Lord for ever. With such thoughts as these you should comfort one another.

The word of the Lord.

________

Gospel Acclamation
Mt24:42 44

Alleluia, alleluia!

Stay awake and stand ready,
because you do not know the hour
when the Son of Man is coming.

Alleluia!

________

Gospel
Matthew 25:1-13
The wise and foolish virgins

Jesus told this parable to his disciples: ‘The kingdom of heaven will be like this: Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were sensible: the foolish ones did take their lamps, but they brought no oil, whereas the sensible ones took flasks of oil as well as their lamps. The bridegroom was late, and they all grew drowsy and fell asleep. But at midnight there was a cry, “The bridegroom is here! Go out and meet him.” At this, all those bridesmaids woke up and trimmed their lamps, and the foolish ones said to the sensible ones, “Give us some of your oil: our lamps are going out.” But they replied, “There may not be enough for us and for you; you had better go to those who sell it and buy some for yourselves.” They had gone off to buy it when the bridegroom arrived. Those who were ready went in with him to the wedding hall and the door was closed. The other bridesmaids arrived later. “Lord, Lord,” they said “open the door for us.” But he replied, “I tell you solemnly, I do not know you.” So stay awake, because you do not know either the day or the hour.’

The Gospel of the Lord.

Mass Reflection: Sunday - 12th November 2023

WIS 6:12-16; PS 63:2-8; 1 THES 4:13-18 OR 4:13-14; MT 25:1-13

Wisdom is a central theme in our readings today. It is one of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit and it is key to living the stewardship way of life in our complex world. As Christian stewards, we should rely on this gift and ask the Holy Spirit to increase it within us.
 
Our First Reading is taken from the very Book of Wisdom. It instructs, “Taking thought of wisdom is the perfection of prudence, and whoever for her (that is, wisdom’s) sake keeps vigil shall quickly be free from care.” 
 
How does the seeking of wisdom — not worldly wisdom, but the wisdom that comes from the Holy Spirit — “free us from care”? It causes us to rely on God to lead and guide us. This is indeed a freeing way to approach life, removing the pressure from us to have all the answers — because the truth is, we don’t. The world is too complicated and unpredictable. The Christian steward can rest in the power of the Holy Spirit to help us navigate any situation.
 
No situation is more complex (or painful) than death, a subject that St. Paul takes on in our Second Reading from his letter to the Thessalonians. Paul teaches us to be wise in our attitude towards death — our own and that of our loved ones. He advises that we not be “unaware… about those who have fallen asleep, so that you may not grieve like the rest, who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose, so too will God, through Jesus, bring with him those who have fallen asleep.” 
 
This is both comforting and sobering. It reminds us that death does not have the final word, because Jesus has conquered even death. But it also calls to mind the inevitability of death. We are wise stewards if we live our lives with this truth in mind, setting priorities that will keep us ready to face our judgment day.
 
Jesus makes this point very explicitly in our Gospel passage from Matthew. He tells the parable of 10 virgins awaiting the arrival of the bridegroom who will welcome them into the wedding feast. Five of the virgins were foolish and five were wise. The foolish virgins failed to bring oil along with their lamps when they went to meet the bridegroom. The wise ones, however, had prepared and brought sufficient oil to keep their lamps lit when the bridegroom came. The foolish virgins, caught off guard, ran off to buy more oil, but they were too late. The door to the wedding feast was locked to them. Jesus cautions, “Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour.” 
 
The stewardship way of life — with its daily and weekly commitments to giving God the best of our Time, Talent, and Treasure — is the “oil” that we always keep with us. When we have this plan in place and we rely deeply on the Holy Spirit to guide us through the twists and turns of each day, we are free, we are ready to answer the Bridegroom when He calls us. We live in wisdom.

Mass Reading: Sunday - 5th November 2023

First reading
Malachi 1:14-2:2,8-10
You have strayed from the way; you have caused many to stumble by your teaching

    I am a great king, says the Lord of Hosts, and my name is feared throughout the nations. And now, priests, this warning is for you. If you do not listen, if you do not find it in your heart to glorify my name, says the Lord of Hosts, I will send the curse on you and curse your very blessing. But you, you have strayed from the way; you have caused many to stumble by your teaching. You have destroyed the covenant of Levi, says the Lord of Hosts. And so I in my turn have made you contemptible and vile in the eyes of the whole people in repayment for the way you have not kept to my paths but have shown partiality in your administration.

    Have we not all one Father? Did not one God create us? Why, then, do we break faith with one another, profaning the covenant of our ancestors?

The word of the Lord.

________

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 130(131)

Keep my soul in peace before you, O Lord.

O Lord, my heart is not proud
    nor haughty my eyes.
I have not gone after things too great
    nor marvels beyond me.

Keep my soul in peace before you, O Lord.

Truly I have set my soul
    in silence and peace.
A weaned child on its mother’s breast,
    even so is my soul.

Keep my soul in peace before you, O Lord.

O Israel, hope in the Lord
    both now and forever.

Keep my soul in peace before you, O Lord.

________

Second reading
1 Thessalonians 2:7-9,13
We were eager to hand over to you not only the Good News but our whole lives

    Like a mother feeding and looking after her own children, we felt so devoted and protective towards you, and had come to love you so much, that we were eager to hand over to you not only the Good News but our whole lives as well. Let me remind you, brothers, how hard we used to work, slaving night and day so as not to be a burden on any one of you while we were proclaiming God’s Good News to you.

    Another reason why we constantly thank God for you is that as soon as you heard the message that we brought you as God’s message, you accepted it for what it really is, God’s message and not some human thinking; and it is still a living power among you who believe it.

The word of the Lord.

________

Gospel Acclamation
1S3:9,Jn6:68

Alleluia, alleluia!

Speak, Lord, your servant is listening:
you have the message of eternal life.

Alleluia!

Or:
Mt23:9,10

Alleluia, alleluia!

You have only one Father, and he is in heaven;
you have only one Teacher, the Christ!

Alleluia!

________

Gospel
Matthew 23:1-12
They do not practise what they preach

    Addressing the people and his disciples Jesus said, ‘The scribes and the Pharisees occupy the chair of Moses. You must therefore do what they tell you and listen to what they say; but do not be guided by what they do: since they do not practise what they preach. They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but will they lift a finger to move them? Not they! Everything they do is done to attract attention, like wearing broader phylacteries and longer tassels, like wanting to take the place of honour at banquets and the front seats in the synagogues, being greeted obsequiously in the market squares and having people call them Rabbi.

    ‘You, however, must not allow yourselves to be called Rabbi, since you have only one master, and you are all brothers. You must call no one on earth your father, since you have only one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor must you allow yourselves to be called teachers, for you have only one Teacher, the Christ. The greatest among you must be your servant. Anyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and anyone who humbles himself will be exalted.’

The Gospel of the Lord.

Mass Reflection: Sunday - 5th November 2023

MAL 1: 14B-2: 2B, 8-10; PS 131: 1-3; 1 THES 2: 7B-9, 13; MT 23:1-12

In many ways being a Christian and being a good steward have everything to do with humility. Jesus is the absolute epitome of humility and today’s readings once again emphasize that fact. However, we also must recognize that it is a way of living to which He calls us as well.

Our First Reading is from the Old Testament Book of Malachi. Malachi is the last of the Twelve Minor Prophets in the Bible, and it is thus the final Book of the Old Testament, placed just prior to Matthew. Scholars debate whether the author actually is someone named Malachi, as in Hebrew “Malachi” means “God’s messenger” and it may not even be a proper name. The Book of Malachi is among the shorter books in the Bible with just over 1,300 words. To put that in perspective the Book of Genesis contains more than 32,000 words. 

In this passage God, through Malachi, addresses those who do not sincerely practice their faith. It is interesting to note that at one point in today’s readings, Malachi states, “You have turned aside from the way.” The “Way” with a capital “W” was what early Christians were called. It stems from Jesus’ statement, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” Malachi points out to those to whom he was writing that turning aside from the way is an unacceptable and insincere act. Acting in this way is the opposite of humility.

St. Paul understood what it meant to be humble. For him the focus was always on the faith and on Christ, not on any personal glorification. In the Second Reading drawn from his First Letter to the Thessalonians Paul says, “We were determined to share with you not only the gospel of God, but our very selves as well.” This idea of serving, of giving self, is key to living a stewardship way of life. In the Gospel, as we will see, Christ really emphasizes it. Paul makes it clear he was among the Thessalonians to give something to them, not to take something from them. Paul also stresses the love aspect of giving in this way: “…so dearly beloved you had become to us.”

Paul clearly liked and respected the Thessalonians for many reasons. He points out one particular cause that also has an obvious message for us. Paul says, “And for this reason we too give thanks to God unceasingly, that, in receiving the word of God from hearing us, you received not a human word but, as it truly is, the word of God.” Paul consistently taught that the Word comes from God. For Paul this Word was beyond human opinion. Paul did not have “blind faith.” He could see how effective it is with those who hear it and believe it. Paul knew that there was power in the Word of God to change lives.

The Word of God could not be more powerful than it is the Gospel Reading from St. Matthew. As the Lord has been doing throughout our recent Gospel Readings, He takes to task the “scribes and the Pharisees.” Jesus points out that it is all right to “do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example.” It is the same message that God provides through Malachi in the First Reading. 

Nevertheless, it is in Jesus’ final reminder in this reading that we find the real jewel among His Word. The Lord says, “The greatest among you must be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” Jesus was truly the greatest among them, but He always spoke of Himself and viewed Himself as a servant. The basic issue for us as His followers is, “Are we more like the Pharisees or more like the Lord?” We are called to imitate Him and to pursue His philosophy and style. His kingdom is different. In the Lord’s kingdom we are measured by how we serve and honor others, not by how we may be served. Do we always serve and honor others?