On the day of unleavened bread, the feast of the Passover, Jesus was in the upper room with his disciples where he shared his last supper with them. After breaking the bread and passing round the cup of wine, he gave the conclusion of his teaching: in his community, the greatest would become the least and the leader as one who serves.
 In John’s account of this, Jesus also makes an eloquent gesture to show what was new about the relationships he came to bring among all his disciples: he washed their feet, thus going against all normal logic of superiority or command. (During that last supper the apostles had been discussing who should be thought ‘the greatest’ among them).

“I am among you as one who serves”

“To love means to serve, and Jesus showed us how,” said Chiara Lubich in one of her talks.
To serve: it’s a word that can seem to degrade a person. Aren’t those who serve usually thought lower than others? And yet, everyone wishes to be served. It is demanded by government institutions (aren’t people with the highest rank called ‘ministers’?) as well as social services (aren’t they aptly called ‘services’?). We are pleased with the shop assistant who serves us well, to the cashier who does things for us quickly, to the doctor or nurse who take care of us with competence and consideration.
If we expect this from others, perhaps they expect as much from us.
Jesus’ words make us Christians aware that we have a debt of love towards everyone. With him and like him, we too must be able to repeat before every person we meet at home or at work:

“I am among you as one who serves”

Chiara Lubich reminds us once again that to be Christians means “to serve, to serve everyone, and see everyone as our master. If we are servants, then the others are masters. To serve, to serve, to put ourselves beneath others, and try to reach the first place according to the Gospel, yes, but by placing ourselves at the service of everyone. Christianity is something serious; it is not just a dab of polish, with a bit of compassion, a bit of love, a bit of charitable giving. Oh no! It’s easy to give something to the poor so as to feel at ease with our consciences, and afterwards command or oppress others.”
But how should we serve? In the same talk, Chiara gives us three simple words: “live the other,” that is, “try to penetrate into the lives of others, to feel what they feel, try to carry their burdens.”
She gives an example: “How can I do this with children? Do the children want me to play with them? Then play!”
Do I have to fit in with someone at home who wants to watch television or go out for a walk? It feels like it’s a waste of time! “No! It’s not a waste of time, it’s all love, it’s all time gained, because we have to make ourselves one out of love.”
“Must I really get the coat for that person who’s about to go out, or must I really take that plate to the table?” Yes indeed, “because the service Jesus requires is not something up in the air, not just a feeling of service. Jesus spoke about real service, with our muscles, with our legs, with our intelligence; we have really to serve.”

“I am among you as one who serves”

So we know how to live this Word of Life: by paying attention to others and readily responding to their concerns and needs, loving with deeds.
At times it will be a matter of improving in our work, doing it with an ever increasing competence and professionalism, because with our work we serve the community.
At other times it could be a matter of responding to requests for help from people faraway or near to hand, who may be elderly, unemployed, have disabilities or be lonely; or it could be a matter of responding to requests from distant countries following natural disasters, for aid to children or other humanitarian projects.
 And those in positions of responsibility will set aside any offensive attitude of command, remembering that we are all brothers and sisters to one another.
If we do everything with love, we will discover, as an ancient Christian saying goes, that “to serve is to reign”.

By Fabio Ciardi and Gabriella Fallacara