“The greatest among you must be your servant.” – Matthew 23:11
Last Sunday we considered the Greatest Commandment to love God and neighbor (Matthew 22:37-40). A key to loving God and others well is having a virtuous attitude of humility and service. Jesus pointed out a vice and pitfall to this attitude in this Sunday’s Gospel passage: pride (Matthew 23:1-12).
Jesus warned His disciples not to follow the bad example set by the Pharisees. They focused on strict adherence to the details of Mosaic law, but failed to fulfill the purpose of the law, which is to love God and others. Jesus warned, “They tie up heavy burdens hard to carry and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to move them. All their works are performed to be seen” (Matthew 22:3-5). Instead of lifting the burdens of others, the Pharisees added burdens.
Loving one’s neighbor requires that we recognize what weighs down others and seek to serve them by helping them lift their burdens. St. Paul instructed the Philippians (2:3): “Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory; rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves, each looking out not for his own interests, but [also] everyone for those of others.” Seeing ourselves as a servant of others will naturally lead to loving them more purely. Instead of doing works in order to be seen, like the Pharisees, our works are free to be done out of love for others.
Resting in Jesus’ yoke, humility, takes away our own burden of pride: “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30). The last “pillar” of stewardship is service. During our Stewardship Renewal, consider how God is calling you to lift the burdens of others through humble service.
Jesus, “What grateful response of service are You me calling to offer out of love for You and neighbor? How do You want me to lift the burdens of my brothers and sisters in Christ and especially the burdens of the poor?”