Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B

In Latin, the word serve is translated as ministrare. Ministers are those who serve at the altar. The priest who takes over the parish is often called an administrator, which means the one who cares for God, the altar, the parish family, and the community. Those who occupy the highest positions in the state are called ministers and should serve the citizens and the state’s welfare with their activities. In cities and towns, there are facilities that we call services, and they should be available to all citizens. Jesus also talks about service in today’s Gospel: Whoever wants to be first, let him be the last of all and servant of all

However, a person seems to have overheard these words of Jesus and often pretends that they don’t even exist because the opposite of service is embedded in him – ambition, desire for power, and success. The Gospels also confirm that people were the same even in Jesus’ time. Instead of thinking about the suffering and death of Jesus Christ, the apostles argue about who is greater among them; the mother of Zebedee’s sons asks that in the kingdom of heaven, one is on the right hand of Jesus and the other on the left… Therefore,

Jesus had to teach them a lesson: He who wishes to be first must be the last and servant of all.We can safely say that the gospel represents a revolution that reevaluates all values ​​and proclaims what people do not like to hear. In Christianity, the most valuable and extraordinary person does not have to serve the most subordinate people. Still, the most significant and valuable person is the one who, not at the expense of others, helps everyone without distinction and tries to make them happy. An example is Jesus himself when he says that he did not come to this world to be served but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many.

Therefore, since the time of Jesus, the word “serve” has lost the meaning of inferiority, and we cannot call ourselves Christians if we lack the courage to be parents, accept children, and serve them throughout our lives. We cannot call ourselves Christians if we prevent a child from embarking on the path of a spiritual vocation, although he longs to serve all his life. We cannot call ourselves Christians if we are unable to help the lonely and the needy if we are unable to tolerate people of a different faith or no faith, because we are also supposed to serve these people.

Let’s remember the Lord’s service at the Last Supper, when he washed the feet of all the apostles, including Judas, thus pointing out that it is most important for a person to cleanse himself from mental dirt, especially from pride and greed, which is dangerous and pollutes a person much more than any other impurity. That is why serving is necessary; service is not lost but gained. Do I feel like a true Christian for whom service, following the example of Jesus, is something natural? Can I serve my family, co-workers, parish community, and strangers? Do I realize I will only be great when I learn to serve selflessly?

The first-year students at school were talking to the teacher about a picture from the textbook. A family was drawn on it; among them was a boy with a different hair color. Then Jožko shouted that the boy would probably be adopted. Lenka interrupted him and said: I know everything about adoption because I am also adopted. Another classmate joined the conversation and asked confusedly: What does adopted mean? Lenka answered: This means you do not grow up in your mother’s belly but in her heart…

We are also adopted children of God who grow up in God’s heart and whom He loves infinitely. Therefore, let us remember that we cannot get to the first place by using our fists, ordering, pushing others away, and acting selfishly because the first place is reserved for those who consistently sacrifice and serve. They are the ones who have their hearts open for others to adopt them. Let’s try to be such people!