A long time ago when someone greeted me along the way and asked me how things were going, I would respond by saying "Surviving.”  Granted this was not a complete statement, but it seemed good at the time.  I had heard it said by other people and thought it was right for me to say it as well.  I don’t remember who particularly challenged me to change the wording of my response. I do remember that one priest encouraged to answer with complete and grammatical sentences and say instead “I am doing well.”  This started to change my outlook about life. It was not only to survive, but it was also live life to the fullest.  I started to realize words matter and I was putting myself limitations by saying, “Surviving.”  Was that all that I was doing with my life? Was I goal motivated or just living day to day without purpose?  Now as I hear this response I used to do when I was younger, I hope whoever is saying it can also change it and find meaning in their life.   If all that we are doing is surviving, is that a good quality of life?  The readings highlight the difference of how we can live our lives.  The first reading gives us a sharp contrast we can be “survivors” or we can be “servants.”  In life we can be content to make ourselves victims, or we can find meaning in the service of others.  The second reading helps to realize who we can help with our service. Paul recalls “our brother Sosthenes” and that name is awfully close to ask of us to “sustain” our brothers.  And going beyond helping an individual then Saint Paul says let’s help the church of God, start here locally with Corinth. For us is to help our local church here in Our Lady of the Valley.  And finally, if we did not have many ideas already, St. Paul says to help all those everywhere, because they too are children of God, whether they know it or not and one day they may acknowledge Jesus is Lord and answer the call to become holy.  The first reading gives the purpose, the second reading gives us the audience, and the Gospel reading gives us the        method.  The Gospel starts with the prayer we use for communion, “Behold the Lamb of God.”  Perhaps a way to serve someone is to bring them to church and hope that one day they too will participate of the divine banquet of the Eucharist.  The Gospel also mentions baptism with water and what a glorious day it would be if we accompany catechumens in the RCIA journey so they can be fully initiated in the church starting with baptism.  To help people live sacramentally is a wonderful way to live.  Let us not just live to survive but let us live to serve others and bring them closer to God even through the sacraments.  Next time when someone asks you how you are doing, perhaps the answer can be “I am striving with the help of the Holy Spirit in the sacraments.”