Eileen Eagan, the author of ‘Vision of the Street: Mother Theresa’ talks about her meeting with Mother Theresa. During the conversion she asked Mother Theresa: “What makes Christianity a different religion?” “Service, service, service”, she answered. Service is the mark of Christian identity. Jesus himself said: “I have come, not to be served but to serve and give my life as ransom to many” (Mark 10:45). Even though Jesus had done a lot of things during his ministry, only one time did he say that he is giving a model to imitate (John 13:15). This was after washing the feet of his disciples.
Why did Jesus place service on the top of his priority list?
First of all, the principle of service underlines the basic truth about human existence. We are a relational being. We belong to one another. No person can grow in isolation. He needs a community. It is not enough to keep one’s blessings for oneself but we need to use it for the well being of the community. A Community does not possess talents. The gifts and talents of the community are distributed among its members. No single member possesses all the talents required to build up a community. If any one person refuses to cooperate, the community suffers (1Cor 12:12-26). In the act of serving we exercise this fundamental dimension of human existence.
Secondly, the goal of service is to prepare people to walk in the way of God and ultimately to build up the body of Christ (the Eucharistic Community)). Washing of the feet signifies that. The word ‘Walking’ was used as a metaphor in the Jewish religious culture. A good person walks the way of God. The washing of the feet was a symbolic gesture of straightening one’s path. Jesus washed the feet of his disciples to prepare them for the last supper (the Eucharist). In this sense, all forms of service must lead to evangelization.
Serving others is not as easy as we think since we are living in a culture that emphasizes on self promotion and self glorification. Jesus not only served symbolically but also concretely. He served others to the extent of breaking and sharing his body. Service at its best is Eucharistic Service. In this we exercise our Christian identity. Christianity is not a self oriented religion but an other oriented religion. The important question, therefore, is not what did accomplish for yourself but rather what did you do for others? (Matthew 25:40).
The Eucharist, the climax of Jesus’ self giving service, not only serves as a constant inspiration to give of ourselves, but also nourishes us on our spiritual journey. It is the food that strengthens us to reach out to others even to the point of sacrificing our life.
Jesus also wanted this spiritual food made available in the church until the end of time; therefore He instituted the Priesthood by authorizing his apostles to continue to do it in His memory” (Luke 22:19). Christian service is not possible without Eucharist. The Eucharist will not be made available without out our priests.
As service marks the identity of Christian life, no one is excused from taking up responsibilities in the church. The call to service is the direct effect of Baptism. Like the early church, let us grow together as a family by taking care of the needs of each other. “The community of believers was of one heart and mind….There was no needy person among them…Everything was distributed according to need” (Acts 4: 32-35).
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