For ever I will maintain my love for my servant. — Psalm 89:29

Mass readings: 2 Chronicles 24:17-25 / Matthew 6:24-34 

Serving the Master 

One summer when young I worked at a cabinet-making factory with college friends. We were cabinet “sanders” near the end of the assembly line, and were paid minimum wage. All the workers on the rest of the line were paid “piece rate” — the more cabinets the higher their pay. But not for us. So we were yelled at for not working fast enough. We had “two masters” — the rest of the line . . . and ourselves. It was tough to reconcile. 

Jesus in today’s Gospel says no one can serve two masters; we will come to despise one of them. We certainly did that summer. We face the same question over and over: “Who you gonna serve?” It takes diligence — and grace — to serve only God, and somehow, some way, resist laws or practices that go against what God wills. 

Prayer: Lord Jesus, when we say You are Lord, we mean it. There is none besides You.