I CAME TO SERVE AND NOT TO BE SERVED

People who are in leadership position take oath of office that they will serve all people with dignity and respect. To serve with dignity means, treating everyone with respect due to the person. Treating everyone with respect to their life, right and property. We are called to serve with dignity and respect in every position we have. We are called to use our position, power and authority to serve God and humanity. 
 
The readings of this Sunday teaches us that position, power and authority should be used to serve God and humanity. In the first reading Moses was coming to the end of his life on earth and the people of Israel who depended on him for spiritual guidance and leadership, were anxious that they may not have another great prophet and leader like Moses. The great and courageous leader who brought them out of the land of Egypt. The great leader who led them safely through the Red Sea and through the dangerous dry and cold desert. In responds to their anxiety, Moses made a prophecy that God will not let them down. God will not allow them to live without a prophet or a good leader. “God will raise up for you a prophet, just like me.” Moses used himself as example of what a good leader and a good prophet should be. As good leader, he was close to God, he listened and followed God’s directives. He has great power and authority over the people, but he used his power and authority to serve. He used his power and authority with wisdom and humility. He used his power and authority to unite the people and bring justice and peace among them. He used his power and authority to heal, to defend and protect human life and dignity.
 
Who did God send in fulfillment of the prophecy of Moses? God sent his Son, Jesus Christ to be the leader of all humanity. Jesus said in Mt 20: 28, “The Son Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”  In other to provide this loving service, Jesus did not hold tight to his God-head, rather he humbled himself. The gospel tells us that Jesus was teaching with authority, unlike the authority of their leaders. He was teaching with the power of love. The power of love heals and transforms people. He used his power of love to heal and restore human life and dignity damaged by situations of life. For Jesus, every human life is important, no one should be treated with disrespected or indignation. Jesus did not want to be praised for his services because he was not doing them for his personal interest, rather he was doing them for the good of all humanity. Jesus leadership style was compared with that of the scribes, because the scribes used their power and authority to punish people without love or respect. They used the law as a weapon of oppression. For the scribes, punishment come first. For Jesus, love come first. Jesus did not misuse his power and authority. If we look at our world today and see all the protests and violence going on, they all reminds us about misuse of power and authority. Some people use their power and authority for their own interest and for the interest of their friends, and trample on justice and dignity to the life of others. We all have power in every position we are. We are called to use them to serve God and humanity. We pray that God will give us the wisdom to use his gifts to us with humility and love.