The path to true greatness.

The Lord Jesus shows us the way to true greatness: whoever wants to become great among you will be your servant. He has shown us and illuminated this path by His example. He did not come to be served but to serve. He served by his teaching, by his works of mercy, by his consolation, by his help, by his counsel – and above all, by shedding his blood to the last drop for humanity; he serves us even now on the altar, sacrificing himself to us and for us, awaiting every call. Thanks to his attitude of a servant, service has become an honor; to serve means: to follow the Son of God. And service is every work, every fulfillment of the duties of one’s state, sacrificially following the example of Christ who gives his life for many. The sacrifice measures a man’s greatness we make in the service of our ideals and our fellow men, also giving our lives, if not “for” many – then “for” many.

St. Emeram, a native of Poitier’s, France, worked on himself this way. He became a missionary. The Duke of Regensburg in Bavaria asked him to help bring the people of that region to God. Emeran was successful. After a time, he wanted to report his work to the Pope in Rome. As soon as he left, something terrible happened. Theodore’s daughter Uta could no longer hide her relationship with the judge’s son. Out of fear of her father, she blamed Bishop Emeram. She thought he was far away, and eventually, as long as the bishop returned, things would be settled. She had not anticipated that her brother would go to see the bishop with his entourage. They caught up with him near Munich. The mercenaries blinded the bishop, cut off his hands and feet, and left him as he was. The guides took the bishop, still alive, to the church where he died. Uta’s falsity came to light. The duke banished his son and daughter and had the dead body of the bishop brought to Rezno, where he is buried.

Similarly, St. Maurice deserves our respect, admiration, and imitation; as a soldier with his comrades, he writes a letter saying that they are Christians and are willing to go into the stiffest battle, but they will not offer sacrifice to the pagan gods. Nevertheless, every tenth man was executed.

We know even less about Jonah, the martyr, but what he learned from the missionary St. Dionysius he invested correctly. He did not hesitate when it came to die for Christ.

It is up to us, to each one of us, today, now – not to hesitate. God needs our confession. We know the whole teaching of Christ. We are better off today than the apostles were in the beginning. Let us give everything to Christ again. Our condition, age, and position. Let it all speak of our faith, faithfulness, and love for Christ. In this will be reflected our greatness, which so pleases God and which God so desires. Jesus calls us to work, to bear witness to Christ. That is how we become like Christ.