Tag Archives: service

Fruits

17 Wednesday Feb 2016

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True Vine
Today’s Reading: Luke 6:43-45; John 15:1-5 Version CEV
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+6%3A43-45%3B+John+15%3A1-5&version=CEV

Jesus left us a simple recipe so that we would not be fooled by the demagoguery or the hypocrisy of people: “No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thorn bushes, or grapes from briers.”

This emphasis on outcomes accompanied the preaching and life of Jesus. He put an end to the formal, empty and lifeless religion. Love and service to God is measured by the love and service we provide to our brothers. However, what human being, born in sin can put aside selfishness, to live supporting and helping his neighbor selflessly?

There is also another side to the coin. If the fruits are good, they will show the quality of the tree.

We know that a person received from God a new nature and has His Spirit, not from the rituals he practices in his religion, but by the way he acts every day. If we are united to Jesus, our life will show it. He correct our shortcomings, clarifies our distortions, and gives new direction to our values, even the results will be better. Jesus is the true vine!

Ildefonso Torres

Service

25 Monday Jan 2016

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Humility of Jesus Final
Today’s Reading: Mark 10:45
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+10%3A45&version=NIV

On one occasion, Jesus took a basin of water and a towel and went to wash the feet of the disciples. When Jesus began to wash and dry the feet of each of them, the disciples were amazed and Peter reacted this way: “You will never wash my feet.”

Jesus was teaching his disciples on how to serve others with humility.

When we serve, we discover that our arrogance has no reason to exist and the act of service gets us closer to people who live with us. By doing this, always serving, we will be freeing ourselves of selfishness and the attitudes that separate us from the society.

Serving is one of the most beautiful ways to show that we love our neighbor, to serve our community and to get closer to the example set by Jesus.

Jesus, being a teacher and Lord, knelt as a slave before his disciples and washed their feet giving them a lesson in love and humility.

Jesus came to serve, not to be served and our Christian life must begin in the same way, serving our neighbor.

Ildefonso Torres

Love, Serve And Be Happy

16 Monday Nov 2015

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Love,Serve
Today’s Reading: John 13:35
So during the meal Jesus got up, removed his outer garment, and wrapped a towel around his waist. He put some water into a large bowl. Then he began washing his disciples’ feet and drying them with the towel he was wearing. They called Jesus Lord and Master, but in that moment, Jesus was providing a service corresponding to a slave.

The disciples were surprised at the attitude of Jesus, but never forget that lesson. It was a lesson in love, because love is demonstrated by actions, with generosity, with service to others.

Proof of the above is that Jesus, after washing their feet, said, “A new commandment I give you: Love one another as I have loved you, that you also love one another”.

Love is action, is dedication, is service to others, and can only be demonstrated and lived when we do not consider ourselves superior to others.

In teaching this principle to his disciples, Jesus said: “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Now you know the truth, and if you practice it, you will be happy.

Ildefonso Torres

Vanity

13 Sunday Sep 2015

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Vanity 2
Today’s Reading Ecclesiastes 1:1-2
Please pay attention to the following story: Every morning, a large car arrived in front of a bank. The door opened, and a well-dressed man in a dark suit stepped out of the car. He walked with a cane, greeting some elegantly, waving others slightly. He entered the bank, crossing the hall and disappeared through a small door inside. There, in the room of the officials, he got rid of his fine clothes, dressed in the elevator operator uniform and operated the elevator facility throughout the day. At the end of the day, he dressed again like a banker and appeared in the hall just as he had done in the morning. He entered the car that waited for him and disappeared. He had a more imposing appearance than the president of the bank.

This is vanity, considered as the trait of being unduly vain or conceited. Vanity exists in the hearts of men, but seems ridiculous in the eyes of God. For God knows what happens in the human heart, even the most hidden secrets.

Does vanity dwells in your heart? Our vanity and pride disappear when we compare our lives with the life of Christ. He was immense and made himself small, he was rich and became poor, he was Lord and became a servant. In Jesus, vanity, arrogance and pride disappear before the humble spirit of love and service.

Ildefonso Torres