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The Spiritual Man, book by H. H. Pope Shenouda III

34- The service

 

St-Takla.org Image: Sunday School at one of Coptic Orthodox Churches in Maghagha village, Egypt - Photograph by Jayson Casper صورة في موقع الأنبا تكلا: خدمة مدارس الأحد في كنيسة في أحد القرى في مغاغة، مصر، تصوير جيسون كاسبر

Sometimes we take from the service its literality or its formality.

We think that we are sharing in the work of the church, without entering into the spirit of the service. But even from the literal side, we forget the literal meaning of the word “servant “.

We forget humility that is necessary for the service.

The service becomes a field to show the ego, mixed with it is the love of command and authority and competition among the servants, which does not agree at all with the word “servant”. As if in the service, we are centered around our ego and not around the kingdom of Christ, about whom John the Baptist said:

“He must increase, but I must decrease” (Jn 3:30).

The service becomes a mere information given by the Sunday school servant, or mere administrative and financial tasks done by the church council and its committees, or activities organized by the working groups in the church. In all that, we forget the spirit of the service.

As for the spiritual person, he serves because of his love for God and His kingdom, and the love of the people whom he wants to take to God and to the kingdom.

He serves with the spirit of the servant and the spirit of the service which is to reconcile those whom he serves with God or deepen their love for Him. Therefore his service is a spiritual service, not just an activity or teaching or formalities or positions!