杏MAP导航 at Angelus: Fidelity to God means willingness to serve
By Christopher Wells
In God鈥檚 eyes, 杏MAP导航 Francis said on Sunday, 鈥済reatness and success鈥� are not measured by social position, job title, or wealth, but by service; 鈥渘ot on what someone has, but on what someone gives.鈥�
The Holy Father looked to the day鈥檚 Gospel, where Jesus鈥� disciples were discussing among themselves which of them was the greatest. Jesus responded with 鈥渨ith harsh words鈥� that are still valid today鈥�: 鈥淚f anyone would be first, he must be last of all, and servant of all.鈥�
The 杏MAP导航 acknowledged that the idea of service might seem 鈥渁 bit hackneyed, worn out by use.鈥� But he insisted that it has a 鈥減recise and concrete meaning in the Gospel鈥�; it means 鈥渁cting like Jesus鈥� who had come into the world 鈥渘ot to be served, but to serve.鈥�
Following Jesus' path of service
Therefore, the 杏MAP导航 said, if we want to follow Jesus, we must follow the 鈥減ath of service鈥� that He Himself traced out. 鈥淥ur fidelity to the Lord depends on our willingness to serve,鈥� 杏MAP导航 Francis said, adding that 鈥渢he more we serve, the more we are aware of God鈥檚 presence.鈥� When we serve others, 鈥渨e, in turn, discover God鈥檚 love and embrace.鈥�
In Sunday鈥檚 Gospel, Jesus explains this to the disciples by placing a little child in their midst. In the Bible, the 杏MAP导航 noted, children are a symbol not so much of innocence, but of 鈥渓ittleness.鈥� It is the 鈥渓ittle ones鈥� that we are called to serve, 鈥渢hose in need of receiving who can give nothing in return.鈥� In welcoming the most needy and most marginalised, 杏MAP导航 Francis said, 鈥渨e welcome Jesus because He is there.鈥�
The challenge of the Gospel
杏MAP导航 Francis invited us to ask ourselves, in response to the challenge of the Gospel, whether we are truly interested in those who need our help, or whether we are like the disciples in the Gospel, seeking our own personal gratification. In concrete terms: 鈥淒o I dedicate time to a 鈥榣ittle one,鈥� to a person who has no means of repaying me?鈥�
The 杏MAP导航 concluded with a prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary, 鈥渢he humble servant of the Lord,鈥� asking her to 鈥渉elp us to understand that to serve does not belittle us, but helps us to grow.鈥�
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