“I HAVE COME TO SERVE, NOT TO BE SERVED (Mt. 20:28).”
“The Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many,” Our Lord said.
Once more, Our Lord Jesus Christ sets an example of humility, for serving others is a consequence and manifestation of this virtue. It is a good occasion to examine ourselves whether carrying out acts of service is a part of our daily life. In our family life, work and social relationships, we carry out many tasks but perhaps in a mechanical or a grudging way, or perhaps in an authoritative or egoistical manner, thus, forgetting the wonderful opportunity to do them out of service for others and for love of God. If service done out of love for God and for others is at the horizon of our actions, our tasks would then acquire a divine and redeeming value, aside from the positive psychological effect it would have not only for others but for ourselves as well.
As Christians, we need to follow Christ’s footsteps. Christ came to serve us and service supposes sacrifice and self-renunciation. Our Lord’s life is entirely dedicated to service and this self-abnegation is especially gleaned from the Cross, which is the cathedra from which He wishes to teach us many lessons. St. Augustine comments:
“Great thing is the knowledge of the crucified Christ. How many things are enclosed inside this treasure! Christ crucified! Such is the hidden treasure of wisdom and science. Do not be deceived, then, under the pretext of wisdom. Gather before the covering and pray that it may be uncovered. Foolish philosopher of this world, what you are looking for is worthless… What is the advantage of being thirsty, if you despise the source? … And what is his precept but that we believe in Him and love each other? In whom? In Christ crucified. This is his commandment: that we believe in Christ crucified … But where humility is, there is also majesty, where weakness is, there shall one find power, where death is, there shall be life as well. If you wish to arrive at the second part, do not despise the first “(Sermon 160, 3-4).
Let us not forget that if we wish to reign with Christ, we must learn to embrace His Cross in our daily life for, as St. John Chrysostom said: “Nobody can reign with Christ without having imitated his Passion. For things of great value can only be acquired at a great price.”
A blessed and great day ahead, Fr. Rolly Arjonillo.
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