We are called to serve, give and love irrespective of results. I think of parents who give their lives for their children and many times all they get back is little to nothing or ungratefulness. Should not the children give some kind of reward to their parents for all that they have been given?

I remember being part of that growing up. Here mom and dad were raising eight boys, doing the best they could and I would say, "Is THAT what we are having for dinner? Can't we have something better than THAT?" What a selfish, ungrateful, and unrewarding response for my parents!

Obviously, if we delve into the life of Jesus, he was not really well rewarded by the people he came to save. Sure, many loved him and wanted to honor him but we know many turned against him and shouted out for his crucifixion. What kind of honor and reward is crucifixion?

Is it wrong to want rewards? No. Jesus, however, teaches us that we have the wrong intention if we serve, love and give so that we will be honored by our fellow human beings. Through his prayer life and following God's will, Jesus was just living the Father's love which eventually led him to the cross. His intention was to do what the Father was doing. And our intention is just to live the love of Jesus irrespective of the results.

How do we live the love of Jesus, especially when no human rewards are being sent our way? To be honest, I feel that way sometimes as a priest- you know, why not just throw in the towel? Maybe not much good is coming back and so why go through all the hassle with so little pay? The answer I come back to about continuing to love when there is no apparent return is an answer I received in prayer many years ago. As clear as anything Jesus has ever spoken to me, he asked, "John, when will you believe my love for you is enough?" If I believe that Jesus' love for me is enough, then I can serve and love and give irrespective of the results. That is what Jesus did because he knew his Father's love through prayer. That is where I want to go.

Our reward is Jesus and living out the fullness of his love.

Blessed by the BEST,

+Fr. John