The Christian life is not one of self-exaltation, but of service, humility, and love. At the heart of the Gospel stands the example of Christ, who said, “The Son of Man is not come to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a redemption for many” (Matthew 20:28). This self-giving love is the model for every Christian, who is called not to dominate or be served, but to become a servant of others in imitation of the Lord Himself. Service is not an optional expression of charity, but an essential mark of authentic discipleship.
Saint Paul exhorts the faithful, “By charity of the spirit serve one another” (Galatians 5:13). This call is more than social courtesy or benevolent outreach; it is a spiritual act rooted in the grace of God. The love that Christians are to exhibit flows from the Spirit who dwells within them. Serving others, therefore, becomes an act of worship and a tangible expression of the interior life. It is not performed for applause or earthly reward, but out of obedience to Christ, who loved us while we were yet sinners.
In the Gospel of John, our Lord offers a moving example of this in the washing of the disciples’ feet: “If I then being your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; you also ought to wash one another’s feet” (John 13:14). Here, Christ demonstrates that no station in life exempts one from humble service. He who is Lord over all stoops to serve, not as a display of sentimentality, but to instruct us that greatness in the Kingdom is measured by one’s willingness to descend in love and lift others by grace.
To serve one another in love is to participate in the very mystery of Christ’s Passion. It is not a superficial kindness or mechanical duty, but a deep and often costly union with the suffering love of the Saviour, who gave Himself wholly and without reserve. In each act of true service—especially those which go unseen by the world—there is a crucifixion of the ego, a putting to death of pride, of self-promotion, and of the natural desire to be praised or repaid. Christ did not cling to His rightful glory, but “emptied himself, taking the form of a servant” (Philippians 2:7). So too must the Christian be emptied, if his service is to bear the likeness of Christ.
It is a daily death to the ambitions that seek personal elevation, to the inner voice that demands recognition, and to the illusion that we are self-sufficient. To serve others in love is to confess, not with words but with action, that all we are and all we do is owed to God, and that our lives are meant to be poured out for the good of others. This humble path is not without pain, for it requires vulnerability, patience, and a willingness to suffer injustice for the sake of peace. Yet, in this lowliness, we draw near to the Cross, and in bearing the burdens of others, we bear also the marks of Christ.
As Saint Paul exhorts: “Let nothing be done through contention: neither by vain glory. But in humility, let each esteem others better than themselves” (Philippians 2:3). This is telling us to reorder our affections and to place others’ good above our own preferences. The world exalts the strong, the ambitious, and the self-made; however the Gospel calls blessed those who serve without notice, forgive without demand, and labour without reward. Such persons do not merely imitate Christ—they make Him present.
In such service, Christ is revealed and the Church is built up. Every act of hidden sacrifice, every quiet labour for another’s good, becomes a living stone in the edifice of the Body of Christ, radiant with the charity that saves souls and glorifies God. These are the unseen victories of grace—the caregiver who weeps silently over the sick, the parent who labours in exhaustion for their children, the neighbour who bears with the faults of another. In them, the Church is strengthened, not by fame or wealth, but by love made tangible. It is here, in these humble offerings, that heaven bends close, and God is glorified in His saints.
May God bless you +
Fr. Charles
12 July 2024
