First Reading: Acts 13:13-25; Psalm: 89. R. v. 2a; Gospel: Jn 13:16-20
THE HUMBLE SERVANT
BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP
When we hear that God took the nature of man, it sounds so simple. But when we reflect deeply on this, we would discover that it was the most humiliating choice God had to make so as to save us. What could be more debasing for a creator to become like his own creature? And as if that wasn’t enough, Jesus chose to be born in a stinky place and brought up in a poor home. Jesus also lived like a wanderer, slept on the streets and depended on people’s generosity to feed. Jesus did all these in service to humanity and for the sake our salvation.
In today’s gospel, Jesus also did the unthinkable. Again, for any scripture reader, we may not see how shocking Jesus’ action was. But to a Jew of his time, for someone to stoop so low to wash another’s feet is one of the most debasing responsibility of a slave. So we can understand how unthinkable it was for someone called master to do such honour to his subjects or slaves. Yet Jesus lowered himself the more to show his disciples how to serve not minding that he was God. What could be more telling a way to be servant to others?
Do we really understand what service means? Perhaps we should reflect again on the personality of Jesus. Service does not accentuate our dignity or importance because we must go lower than those we are called to serve. We would have to begin by coming down to their status and then stooping down even lower to serve them. It is only then that we can be qualified to be called a servant. For a true servant, nothing is more important than those they serve. A true servant is always ready to give everything to be at the service of others. Just like Jesus, we can change our world by our humility and services.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY
Lord Jesus, give us the courage, humility and disposition to serve one another. Amen.
Amaka Egbuonu
Amen.