On the day of Unleavened Bread, the feast of the Passover, Jesus was in the “upper room” with his disciples to share his

last supper with them.

On the day of Unleavened Bread, the feast of the Passover, Jesus was in the “upper room” with his disciples to share his

last supper with them.

After he broke bread and passed around a cup of wine, he imparted to

them his last teaching: in his community, the greatest would become the smallest, and the one who governs

as the one who serves.

In John’s account, Jesus with an eloquent gesture shows the In John’s account, Jesus with an eloquent gesture shows the originality of the relationships he came to establish among all his originality of the relationships he came to establish among all his

disciples: he washes their feet, going against the expected behavior disciples: he washes their feet, going against the expected behavior from a superior or one who is in charge (the apostles during that last from a superior or one who is in charge (the apostles during that last

supper were asking themselves who could be considered “the supper were asking themselves who could be considered “the greatest” among them).greatest” among them).

““To love means to serve, and Jesus gave us the To love means to serve, and Jesus gave us the example,” said Chiara Lubich in one of her talks.example,” said Chiara Lubich in one of her talks.

To serve may seem degrading. Are not those who serve usually considered inferior to others?

And yet, everyone wishes to be served. Public institutions demand it (are not the people who hold the highest positions referred to as “ministers”?), as

well as social services (are they not aptly called “services”?).

We are appreciative when a waiter serves us well, We are appreciative when a waiter serves us well, when the clerk efficiently processes our papers, when the clerk efficiently processes our papers, when the doctor and the nurse take care of us when the doctor and the nurse take care of us

competently and with consideration.competently and with consideration.

If we expect this from others, perhaps they too expect as much from us.

Jesus’ words help us Christians to be 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 with whom we live or work:

Chiara Lubich reminds us once again that to be

Christians means to “serve, to serve

everyone, and consider everyone as our master. If we are servants, then the others are masters.

To serve, to serve, to put ourselves below the others, and try to live the primacy of

the Gospel… yes, but by placing ourselves at the

service of everyone.

But how should we serve?But how should we serve?

Christianity is something

demanding; it is not just a

superficial glaze, a little compassion, a bit of love, or some charity to the poor. Oh no! It’s quite easy to give alms to the

poor and appease our consciences,

only then to command or

oppress others.”

      In that talk, In that talk, Chiara Lubich Chiara Lubich

offered two offered two simple words: simple words:

“live the other,” that is, “try to enter into the lives of others, to feel what they feel; try to carry

their burdens.”

Do I have to please another member of

the family who wants to watch

television or go out for a walk?

She gave an example: “How can I do this with children?

The children want me to play with them, then

I’ll play!”

“Must I really get that person’s

jacket who forgot it as he exits the

door, or do I really have to set the

table?”

You may be tempted to think that it’s a waste of time. “No! It’s not a waste of time, it’s all love, it is all time gained, because we have to

make ourselves one with the others out of love.”

Jesus speaks about concrete service, done with our muscles, our legs, our intelligence; we must really

serve.”

Jesus speaks about concrete service, done with our muscles, our legs, our intelligence; we must really

serve.”

That’s right, because “the service that God asks for is not something abstract, it is not a feeling of service.

We now know how to live this Word of Life — by We now know how to live this Word of Life — by attending to the needs of others and by attending to the needs of others and by

responding quickly to them, by loving with facts.responding quickly to them, by loving with facts.

which we have to carry out with ever-which we have to carry out with ever-greater efficiency and greater efficiency and

professionalism, because this is a professionalism, because this is a way to serve the community.way to serve the community.

At times it will be a matter of improving

our work,

In other moments, it could be answering requests for help from those far away or nearby and who may be older,

unemployed, physically or mentally handicapped, or people who are lonely — perhaps refugees or victims of natural

disasters. They may be invitations to adopt a child, or support humanitarian projects.

In other moments, it could be answering requests for help from those far away or nearby and who may be older,

unemployed, physically or mentally handicapped, or people who are lonely — perhaps refugees or victims of natural

disasters. They may be invitations to adopt a child, or support humanitarian projects.

Those who have positions of Those who have positions of responsibility will set aside any responsibility will set aside any hateful attitudes of command, hateful attitudes of command,

remembering that we are all brothers remembering that we are all brothers and sisters to one another.and sisters to one another.

Then if we do everything with love, we will discover, as an ancient Christian saying goes, that “to serve is to reign.”

Text by Fr. Ciardi and Gabriella FallacaraText by Fr. Ciardi and Gabriella FallacaraTaken from the Taken from the “Word of Life,”“Word of Life,” a monthly publication of the Focolare Movement. a monthly publication of the Focolare Movement.

Graphic by Graphic by Anna Lollo with Fr. with Fr. Placido D’Omina (Sicily, Italy) (Sicily, Italy)