the path to heaven
Jesus told his disciples and us that “If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all” [Mk 9-35]. The word used for ‘servant’ is ‘doulos’. In his letter to the Colossians, St. Paul tells us “Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, — slave, free; but Christ is all and in all [Col 3:11]. Here the word used for ‘slave’ is ‘doulos’.
Jesus again told his disciples that “…anyone who wants to become great among you must be your servant, and anyone who wants to be first among you must be your slave, just as the Son of man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” [Mt 20:26-28]. In this statement you find ‘doulos’ used as both ‘slave’ and ‘servant’. So which is it? It is both, but then, not both. Jesus explains by adding “the Son of man came not to be served but to serve”. He calls us to service, but not as unwilling, bound slaves but rather as free servants who willingly and joyfully wish to serve others. God became man to serve, to bring joy and light to the world. No one forced Him to be the servant of all; He leapt at the opportunity to serve.
I recently heard someone say that any ministry of service should never be considered a chore or a thing one was required to do but rather a source of great joy. I couldn’t agree more. The overwhelming sense of joy that I receive whenever I serve in some small way is only tempered by a healthy dose of Catholic guilt; the truth is I feel guilty for being the recipient of so much joy.
Jesus came to serve and he calls us to do likewise. Here’s the simple truth. No one can buy their way into heaven; neither can anyone get there by sitting on the sidelines. The path to heaven is paved with the stones of love, laid humbly, one stone at a time, by those in the service of God. If you’re sitting back watching others build the road, maybe it’s time to stand up and start setting stones. You’ll be amazed at how much joy there is in doing so.