When Jesus spoke about the scribes and Pharisees, He exposed a danger that extends far beyond the religious leaders of His own time. They occupied the chair of Moses and had been entrusted with the responsibility of guiding God’s people, yet their concern had gradually shifted from serving others to promoting themselves. They delighted in places of honour at banquets, sought public recognition in the marketplaces, and enjoyed the titles that distinguished them from ordinary people. Their outward religious observance concealed an interior pride that had slowly displaced their love for God and their concern for those entrusted to their care. Instead of being the salt and light of Israel, they had become absorbed in their own importance, leaving the people like sheep without a shepherd.
Our Lord immediately drew a very different picture of Christian leadership. “You are not to be called Rabbi,” He told His disciples, “for you have one Teacher… The greatest among you shall be your servant.” He did not merely teach this principle; He embodied it throughout His entire life. On the night before His Passion, He knelt before His disciples and washed their feet, performing the work normally assigned to a servant. Earlier, He had reminded them, “I am among you as one who serves.” These words reveal something essential about the Christian life. Greatness in the Kingdom of God is measured not by influence, recognition, or authority, but by the willingness to give ourselves for the good of others.
Such service is impossible without humility. Whenever we begin to seek our own glory, we inevitably lose sight of the people God has placed in our lives. Humility frees us from the constant need to defend our reputation or prove our worth. It allows us to forget ourselves and to become attentive to the needs of others. St. John Chrysostom observed that God chooses humble instruments for His work because they recognise that whatever good they accomplish comes from Him. This truth should fill us with both confidence and peace. The success of our apostolate, our family life, or our daily work does not depend primarily upon our talents or abilities but upon God’s grace acting through hearts that are willing to cooperate with Him.
This realization protects us from discouragement as well as from pride. When things go well, we know that the glory belongs to God. When our efforts appear to bear little fruit, we remember that He asks us to be faithful rather than successful according to human standards. As St. Paul teaches, no one can sincerely proclaim Jesus as Lord except through the Holy Spirit. Every genuine conversion, every act of charity, and every growth in holiness is ultimately God’s work. Our task is to place our gifts at His disposal with generosity and to allow Him to use them as He sees fit.
Paradoxically, humility does not make us timid or hesitant. It gives us the courage to undertake great things because we no longer rely exclusively upon ourselves. St. Josemaría frequently pointed out that humility encourages us to attempt difficult tasks while remaining deeply conscious of our own weakness. The humble person is not paralysed by his limitations because he knows that God’s grace is greater than them. At the same time, humility keeps us vigilant against the subtle temptation of seeking ourselves in the very works we undertake for God. It is possible to perform generous actions while secretly hoping for admiration, appreciation, or influence. Pride easily disguises itself beneath apparently noble motives, and for that reason we need to examine our intentions regularly before the Lord.
Whenever pride begins to dominate our hearts, our relationships inevitably suffer. A self-centred person expects special consideration, is easily offended, and finds criticism difficult to accept. Conversations become opportunities to display knowledge rather than to understand another person. Successes are exaggerated, while mistakes are excused. Even acts of generosity can become occasions for self-promotion. Little by little, the needs and feelings of others fade into the background because everything is viewed through the lens of one’s own importance. Pride narrows our vision until our own interests occupy the centre of our attention.
Prayer offers us the opportunity to recognize these tendencies before they become firmly rooted. Standing honestly before God, we can ask ourselves whether our dealings with family members, colleagues, friends, and strangers are truly marked by a spirit of service. Do we seek opportunities to help without expecting recognition? Are we willing to perform unnoticed acts of kindness? Do we rejoice in the success of others as readily as in our own? Such questions are not meant to discourage us but to help us grow in the freedom that humility brings.
Jesus Himself remains our perfect model. No one has ever possessed greater dignity than the Son of God, yet no one has ever served with greater generosity. Throughout His earthly life He sought out the sick, welcomed sinners, comforted the sorrowful, and patiently formed His disciples despite their repeated failures. Even now He continues to serve us, constantly offering His grace, lifting us up after every fall, and patiently leading us towards holiness. If we spend time contemplating His life, we gradually learn that service is not simply one Christian duty among many. It is the ordinary expression of a heart that has begun to resemble His.
*By the Via Virtutis team
Photo by Elaine Casap on Unsplash
