In our gospel, Matthew 23:8-12, we hear, “The greatest among you must be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” Jesus taught them this in the sermon on the mount, in his teachings and parables, and his many examples of serving and healing society’s outcasts.
Jesus came to teach selflessness, not selfishness. Selflessness is the closest we will come to the divine heart of Jesus. I was blessed to have a great model of selflessness in my life. My father was the most humble and selfless man I’ve ever known. He put everyone ahead of himself. He never wanted a fancy car, a fancy house or a fancy title. My Dad could find Jesus in everyone, especially in those where he’s really hard to find!
So how does this message relate to us today in our lives? The pursuit of the “three P’s”: power, prestige and possessions is the driving force for many today in our world and what the world sees as being great. But Jesus makes it clear, to be his follower, to be the greatest, we must put ourself last and serve others. Just think of what a very different world it would be if serving others was the driving force in our society. How are we responding to his call to serve others?
De Colores, Deacon Kevin
