To Serve Rather Than Be Served

As I read the Gospel for today, I stopped and noted that the behavior exhibited by the apostles, particularly by James and John, is not what I would normally expect of people who spent most of their time with Jesus.  We might be able to excuse their mother.  After all, what parent doesn’t try to advance the cause of his/her children?  However, the fact that James and John exhibit some eagerness about being seated at the right and left hand of Jesus is hardly “saintly” behavior.

However, as I pondered the story, I remembered some of the criticisms that Pope Francis has leveled against curia officials and bishops; namely, careerism.  Sadly, just as James and John were trying to “get ahead” in Jesus’ circle, we clergy can still be seen to do the same thing in so many instances.  At that point in my meditation, I stopped being critical of the behavior of the apostles and started to look at myself.

To be sure, practicing the kind of humility that Jesus asks of his apostles is anything but easy.  We seem to have a natural inclination to “getting ahead in the world.”  The example that Jesus has given us is diametrically opposed to this kind of behavior.  St. Paul puts it so eloquently and so beautifully in the Letter to the Philippians:

“Have among yourselves the same attitude that is also yours in Christ Jesus, Who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped.  Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross.  Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:5-11).

In the homily he preached for his father’s funeral, Fr. Paul Scalia made this statement: “We are gathered here because of one man. A man known personally to many of us, known only by reputation to even more. A man loved by many, scorned by others. A man known for great controversy, and for great compassion. That man, of course, is Jesus of Nazareth.”

I know that I was caught off guard when I heard this statement.  Who of us didn’t think he was speaking of his father when he was, in fact, speaking of Jesus?  Loved yet scorned, known but also unknown, a man of controversy and compassion – Jesus does not simply practice humility.  Jesus is humility incarnate; Jesus is God who loves us so much that he was willing to set aside all that goes with being divine in order to be fully human. 

Jesus came to serve, not to be served.  How many of us can claim this in our lives?

You are probably all tired of me saying this as I have been singing the praises of a group of people ever since I was released from the nursing home last Thursday.  When I think back to all of the kindness, gentleness, compassion and concern that I experienced during the two weeks after my surgery, I cannot help but see them as a true embodiment of service.  Yes, they are paid to do this kind of work.  However, no amount of money could adequately compensate them for the devotion with which they care for others.  Their example continues to inspire me.