Homily for February 28, 2018.
“…but
whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be
first among you must be your slave; even as the Son of man came not to be
served but to serve.” Matthew 20:26-28.
The
shortest road to greatness is service and this is a secret many people do not
know. We all want to get ahead in life but we fail to realize that going higher
does not happen by bringing people down but bringing oneself down before
others. If indeed respect begets respect, then service begets promotion.
Today, Jesus
teaches us that whoever desires to be great or first must become the slave of
others. How does this work?
By serving
others, we make them feel better about themselves (lighten their burdens like
Simon of Cyrene), and thereby putting ourselves into their good books. They
never stop talking about us and whenever the opportunity presents itself, they
recommend us to others. You remember how Pharaoh’s cup bearer enjoyed Joseph’s
services for free while in prison? Years later, when Pharaoh had a dream that
needed an interpreter, the only name on the cup bearer’s lips was who? Joseph!
Again, in
serving other we get to improve ourselves faster than ever; we soon discover our
talents and acquire skills we never thought we would have. Our knowledge
increases, opportunities are opened for us, and we become solution oriented. Outwardly,
it may seem like we are slaving for the benefit of others but in reality, we
are actually benefiting ourselves more than anyone else.
By serving
others, we may not make as much money as we would want, but we make something far
more valuable than money. If Joseph had not being a slave, there was no way he
would have functioned well as a Prime Minister. Dear friend, life’s greatest
lessons are not taught in the comfort of our classroom desks but in tears,
sweat and blood.
No wonder
Denzel Washington said: “Ease is a greater threat to progress than adversity.” If
it was easy, there would be no stars in this world. God himself who created us
did not make life easy not because he likes stress but because he knows that if
we are not stressed, the gifts and talents he deposited in us for the continued
development of this world will not shine out.
It wasn’t easy
for Jeremiah, it wasn’t easy for any of the prophets neither was it easy for
Jesus. Yet, not even the fear of death could detract Jesus from his mission to
serve rather than be served. He “emptied himself, taking the form of a servant…
humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross. Therefore
God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every
name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, 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
Dear
friends, there is more honour in being a servant than in being served by
others. If Jesus Christ, our Lord and God could afford to come to this world to
serve mankind, why should I be ashamed of serving others?
Do not
think you are doing your children a favour when you employ housemaids and houseboys
to do all the work in the house while your kids simply eat, sleep and play. You
are deforming your children, taking away their opportunity for creativity and
personal development. As Fr. George Ehusani puts it: “If because of your
suffering, you became wise, your attempt to prevent your children from
suffering will make them fools.”
Let us
Pray: Lord Jesus, give me the same mind as you had to humble myself and serve
others. Take away from me my pride, my longing to exult myself. May I be poor
in spirit Lord. Amen.
Be happy,
live positive, it is well with you. Wednesday of the 2nd Week of
Lent. Bible Study: Jeremiah 18:18-20 and Matthew
20:17-28.
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