Service to others

John 13:12-15

After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, ‘Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.

Here is another beautiful example of how Jesus showed us how to love and to be of service to God and to others. We serve God by serving each other, and serving with joy, care and love. Jesus is giving us a distinct instruction, and what is there else to do but to follow him? When Jesus himself gets down on his knees and serves his disciples, who are we to not follow this example, we who are his students and followers? And humility in service is also needed because when we give of ourselves to serve a brother or sister, to help someone in need, or put someone else before ourselves, it is not us who should receive the praise, it is our Father in heaven. We serve and we give of ourselves for the glory of God, who is the source of all giving. We serve in Jesus’ name. Serving God and serving others should be our default mechanism, for the world is full of self-serving and a “me first” attitude that destroys community cohesion. Following Jesus’ example of loving service and doing good, no matter what our station in life, spreads his message of love in a real and grass roots way.