Servanthood can be described in many modes; slavish, blind, scrupulous, being obedient based on duty, discipline etc. Christian servanthood has its model in Christ which is none of the above. It is based on faithfulness, a faithfulness because of belonging to the other. About Christ it is said, “in loud cries and bitter tears he offered his prayers and supplications to the one able to save Him from death. Because of his faithfulness he was heard” (Heb 5:7).
He was doing the will of the Father, but Father was doing His works through him. He had the freedom in doing what Father would desire. He was able to trust the plan of the Father. He came in the form of an anointed servant to bring Good News to the poor, to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free (Is 61:1; Lk 4:18) Even when he died in humiliation as a curse, he trusted in the Father and said that it is accomplished (Jn 19:28).
We are called to imitate the anointed servant in his words, life, and death in faithfulness. We may not achieve everything that we desire, but it is our trust that it is the work of the Father. This trust cannot be experienced in a duty-based service or in a slavish obedience, it can be nourished in a relationship of belonging. There is a freedom, to love, to fight, to complain, to open our heart in sorrow and anguish. If we do not know Him in belonging, our deeds will be in fear and doubt of the approval of the master.
Faithful servanthood is not set within a stereotyped circle, there is spontaneity and creativity. God does not ask us to perform a puppet play, he opens new ways as best as it can be. Only in trust we can open ourselves to these ways out of routine. Faithfulness also will help us to wait in patience rather than being in eagerness to see the results immediately. After all it is God who is establishing his kingdom.
The upright shall live by his faithfulness (Hab 2:4).
The upright shall live by his faithfulness (Hab 2:4).
No comments:
Post a Comment