Rooted in Christ, Ready to Serve

One of the greatest challenges we face in life is learning to serve others selflessly, but the truth is, we can’t serve well unless we’re rooted in Jesus. As Fr. Stanley reminded us in his homily, the call to serve is not simply about doing good things or following a checklist, it’s about transforming our hearts and minds to be like Christ. Saint Paul gives us two crucial lessons in this journey: we must gain the mind of Christ, and we must be willing to empty ourselves.

These two go hand in hand. You can’t truly serve unless you have the mind of Christ, and you can’t have the mind of Christ unless you’re willing to empty yourself. Mission, service and love all flow from a heart that reflects Christ’s own. If we’re not transformed internally, our efforts to serve will be just surface-level, never fully embodying the love and mercy of God.

“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” – Winston Churchill

In the first reading (Isaiah 53:10-11), we see the example of a servant who, through quiet suffering, served with dignity and faithfulness. Despite the lack of gratitude or recognition from the people, the servant never wavered. He reflected the same resilience and mind of God, showing us what it looks like to serve even when it’s hard, even when it goes unnoticed. In his service, he embodied the mind of God, an unwavering commitment to love and mercy. But how does that happen in our lives today? How do we experience the mind of God? Through Jesus. Through His mercy.

Jesus makes it clear that mercy is an action. “I was hungry, and you gave me food; I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink.” Mercy requires us to empty ourselves, to make space for others’ needs, even when it’s inconvenient or costly. It’s more than a kind thought or a good intention; it’s a radical choice to put others first, just as Jesus did.

The second reading from Hebrews (4:14-16) reminds us that we have the same capacity to choose what Jesus chooses. We, too, can cultivate a heart for the poor, the outcast, and the forgotten. Jesus doesn’t ask us to do anything He hasn’t done Himself. In fact, He equips us to follow His example by giving us His heart, a heart that beats for those who suffer, a heart that finds joy in service.

But here’s the challenge: like James and John in the Gospel (Mark 10:35-45), we sometimes want to serve on our own terms. We desire positions of power and influence, thinking that leadership is about being in control. But Jesus flips this thinking upside down. Leadership in the Kingdom is about becoming a servant. James and John eventually got it, they became true servants, just like Jesus. They understood that real greatness comes from humility, not from power.

The Church’s mission has been most effective when it has embraced this truth. The Church has enriched people through healthcare, education and countless other forms of service because it has reflected the mind of God. When the Church serves with the heart of Christ, the mission becomes alive, creative and impactful.

However, Fr. Stanley pointed out a harsh reality, sometimes we lack creativity and passion in the mission. Why? Because we don’t fully understand the mind of God, and we are hesitant to empty ourselves. As long as we hold back, the mission remains a myth, something we talk about but never fully realise.

If we want to make a difference, we need to let go of what’s holding us back. “What is bad must end in us, and what is good must perpetuate in us,” Fr. Stanley said. It’s about transformation, letting God root out our pride, our selfishness and our desire for recognition. Only then can we truly serve as Christ served.

As we reflect on this message, let’s ask ourselves: Are we truly rooted in Jesus? Are we willing to empty ourselves to serve others? How is God calling us to embody His mind and heart in our everyday lives? The poor, the suffering, the marginalised, they will have the final word. What will they say about us?