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 originality of the relationships he came to establish among all his disciples: he washes their feet, going against the expected behavior from a superior or one who is in charge (the apostles during that last supper were asking themselves who could be considered “the greatest” among them).

“To love means to serve, and Jesus gave us the 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, when the clerk efficiently processes our papers, when the doctor and the nurse take care of us 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? 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, Chiara Lubich offered two 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. 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 attending to the needs of others and by responding quickly to them, by loving with facts.

which we have to carry out with ever- greater efficiency and professionalism, because this is a 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 responsibility will set aside any hateful attitudes of command, remembering that we are all brothers 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 Fallacara Taken from the “Word of Life,” Life,” a monthly publication of the Focolare Movement. Graphic by Anna LolloLollo Lollo Lollowith Fr. Placido D’OminaD’Omina D’Omina D’Omina(Sicily, Italy)