Greatness for Holy Service

May 26, 2021
Wednesday for Eighth Week for Ordinary Time
Readings for Today

Listen for English

Then James and John, Zebedee sons, come meet Jesus and tell am, ‘Teacher, we want make You do anything wey we ask You for us.” E answer, ‘Wetin una want make I do for una?” Dem answer am, “Grant us say, for Your glory, one of us go sit for Your right and the other one for Your left.” Mark 10:35–37

James and John get plenty boldness. Part of wetin fit don give dem this boldness na say dem don really know how Jesus good. E no be like any other person, and dem clearly see say E dey genuine. So dem allow demself fall for the trap of taking Jesus goodness as something wey dem fit use anyhow, as dem ask our Lord for favour wey go benefit only dem. Jesus answer dem with gentleness and careful thought. For the end, James and John feel humbled small because dem try to get this selfish favour, when the other disciples vex for wetin dem ask.

Jesus sum up His answer to these disciples like this: “…anybody wey want be great among una go be una servant; anybody wey want be first among una go be everybody slave.” Of course, na Himself Jesus dey especially talk about. Na Him be the greatest and the first among dem. And na because of this Jesus humble Himself as their servant and “everybody slave.” Normally, to be slave na something wey people see as very bad. To make person slave na to abuse that person dignity. Na way to throw away the dignity wey the person get. But even with that, Jesus talk say the best way to truly be great na to become everybody slave.

When dem force person to become slave for real, na serious abuse be that. But another kind of holy slavery dey wey Jesus dey talk about. For Jesus, holy slavery na when we give ourselves to another person with sacrifice because of love. And na this Jesus do perfectly. His death for the Cross na real death for body. Na sacrifice of His life for this earth, but E do am freely to set other people free. As Jesus dey talk about Himself, E explain His holy “slavery” when E talk say, “Because the Son of Man no come make people serve am, but to serve and to give im life as ransom for many people.”

The first thing wey make Jesus great na the simple fact say E be God. But His greatness show pass for His human nature when E give His life “as ransom for many people.” Na the Cross become the greatest act of service with love wey anybody don ever know. The fruit of His sacrifice wey E make without thinking of Himself na salvation for everybody wey turn to am. So Jesus turn slavery and death into the greatest act of love wey anybody don ever know.

Today, think deeply about your own calling to live as holy slave. How God dey call you to give yourself to other people with sacrifice because of love? If we look am only as human beings dey look things, sacrifice, service as servant and even holy slavery hard to understand. But when we use Jesus as our example, e dey much clearer. Look for ways wey you fit give yourself to other people without thinking of yourself, and know say the more you fit follow our Lord example for this holy work, the greater your life go be.

Lord of all holiness, Your greatness show for Your human nature through Your act of perfect service as servant, when You freely choose to die for the sins of those wey turn to You for redemption. You humble Yourself, take the form of slave, so that everybody fit dey free. Help me make I always trust Your great love and continue to open myself to the gift of redemption wey You dey offer. Jesus, na You I trust.