Week 5: Service
“Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”-
Matthew 20:26-28
Jesus displays the perfect example of service. He lived out his servanthood so that his disciples and others could see. He called the disciples and calls us to service: “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” (John 13:14-15) While the disciples were
bickering about who was the greatest and who should be washing feet, Jesus quietly took up a bowl of water and a towel and began washing the disciples’ feet. He showed that no matter your stature and position in life, you can always be a servant to and of service to others.
Richard Foster, in his book Celebration of Discipline, explains that there is a difference between serving and being a servant. Foster says,
“When we choose to serve, we are still in charge.” We are in control of and decide who and when we will serve. This attitude can lead us to a power struggle with others we think may be “stepping on us, that is, taking charge over us.”
“When we choose to be a servant, we give up the right to be in charge. There is great freedom in this,” he says. In choosing to be a servant, we make ourselves available to be used as and when needed. The
service is voluntary and can bring great joy.
But we must be careful and aware that there is a distinction between true service and self-righteous service. True service comes from a relationship with God and is a lifestyle. God prompts us to welcome all opportunities to serve, not to be seen or applauded for our actions or the results. True service is open to all; there is no discrimination: “Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and
said, ‘Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.’” (Mark 9:35) True service is simple and faithful, tending to the needs of others. Foster says, “True service builds community. It quietly and unpretentiously goes about caring for the needs of others. It draws, binds, heals, builds.”
Self-righteous service, on the other hand, requires external rewards and recognition. A person expends energy calculating
and manipulating when, how and who to offer service. It is result-driven, mood-driven (serve when I feel like it), temporary and not conducive to community building.
Service is more than a list of things we can do; it should be part of our daily lives. In a Lenten homily, Fr Desmond Nair once said, “We are called to serve God and others with our time, talents and treasures.” Service can take different forms: hidden service, service of
small things, the service of guarding the reputation of others, the service of being served, the service of hospitality, the service of listening, the service of bearing the burdens of another and the service of sharing the word of God. Richard Foster looks at all these forms of service more closely.
Here are some practical ways of serving and being of service:
- Help your family by cleaning the home, working in the
garden, and offering to prepare and cook a meal.
- Volunteer at church - join the team that visits the sick and elderly; assist at the soup kitchen; wash the cups from the tea after mass.
- Donate items and time to a charity - volunteer at a homeless shelter or animal shelter; donate old clothes or household items; deliver unwanted toys and games to an orphanage.
- Listen to others - be present and available to listen, not fix. Visit a home for the elderly and just listen to
their stories. Connect with them, showing patience, love and empathy.
- Organise a group of people to clean up a common area like the church grounds, park or street.
Notice how you feel and what you learn about yourself when being of service. What has been the most challenging part of service? What has been the most rewarding part of service?
When we serve,
we give of ourselves to benefit and bring value to another person or group. We can see new opportunities to serve and love our neighbour through God's love. Helping another can improve their life in ways you may never see or know. Serving God and others “changes our mindsets and our hearts to reflect how Jesus wants us to think toward others… no strings attached, not hoping for something in return,” says Chelsea Crockett in her article The Importance of Serving Others.
Try, this week, to find three specific ways of serving others with your “time, talents or treasures”.
Readings for the coming days
18 Mar John
17:1-26
19 Mar Matthew 26:36-56
20 Mar John 18:1-18
21 Mar Mark 14:32-72
22 Mar Luke 22:39-62
23 Mar John 18:19-40
