Jesus summoned them and said to them,
“You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles
lord it over them,
and their great ones make their authority over them felt.
But it shall not be so among you.
Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant;
whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all.
For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve
and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
via USCCB | NAB – March 2, 2011.
Whenever the Lord appoints us to a position of authority…whether in our own homes (as parents) or in society in general, He does so for one reason and one reason only…for us to bring God’s love and grace to His children. We do this most concretely through physical service…Mother Teresa comes to mind here. I can say I love my kids and that I pray for them all I want…but if I don’t meet their physical needs then I’m a rotten parent. Same for my brothers and sisters in need.