Reach Out With Joy

When Jesus began His public ministry, He “went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. ‘The time has come,’ he said. ‘The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!’” (Mark 1: 14-15)

Read that again and listen to the joy and excitement in Jesus’ voice. He had been living a quiet life and now it was time to begin teaching the good news about God’s love! He traveled from one town to another, seeking out apostles to work with Him and making Himself available to heal the sick, cast out demons, and offer hope to all (see Mark 1:14-39). He gave us an example of looking for opportunities to serve others with love.

The Bible tells of many holy people who reached out in joyful, selfless service to share God’s love.

For example, Mary had just given consent to become the Mother of God. The angel Gabriel told her that her relative, Elizabeth, was also expecting a baby. What did Mary do? Did she flaunt her new state of grace, sit around the house, and expect her family to wait on her? No; she was so moved by love and humble joy for Elizabeth and how God was making Himself present to both of them that she ‘journeyed in haste’ to visit Elizabeth and to serve her for three months (see Luke 1:39-40, 56).

Even God the Father reached out to us when He sent His Son to save us from the power of sin and death. He still serves us today to draw us closer to Himself:  His wonders of creation fill us with awe; others’ acts of kindness restore our belief in the goodness of people; graced moments bring us peace; and healings – physical, emotional, and spiritual – strengthen our faith in God and His presence in our world.  

So, let’s remember that when we serve others with joyful love -- when we look for opportunities to reach out and show someone kindness or compassion -- we imitate Christ and all the other holy ones.

“Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do.” --Ephesians 6:7-8

“Lord, soften my heart to reach out and serve others with joy.”

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