What is the true purpose of service in holding a position? During election caravans and campaigns, we often hear the words, “I am at your service” or “I promise to do my best to serve our society.” But what does it really mean to serve, or to be a servant? Is service merely an abstract concept we utter with our lips? Is it just flowery words meant to gain favor, like points in a courtship? These questions remind us that service, whether in society, in the family, or in the Church, cannot remain at the level of words. True service must be made visible in deeds, and it must be rooted in humility.
My dear friends, our readings for the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time invite us to reflect deeply on this. The apostles once cried out to the Lord, “Increase our faith.” They desired more faith so that they could heal the sick, raise the dead, and cast out demons. In other words, they wanted to be fully equipped with God’s power to serve well. Their desire was directed to service, yet how different it is from many of our cries today. Often, we do not ask for faith to serve more faithfully. Instead, we ask for titles, recognition, or positions that we think will give us the authority to act. We want to say, “This is me, this is my duty.”
Jesus, however, teaches us a different way. He says that faith, even as small as a mustard seed, can already make the impossible possible. What matters is not the size of our authority or the titles we carry but the depth of our faith and humility in serving. Service in the kingdom of God is not about being seen or praised. It is about being faithful in small things and trusting that God’s power works through us.
At the same time, Jesus reminds His apostles and us that as servants entrusted with authority, we are not to be boastful but humble. Authority in service does not give us the right to exalt ourselves. Rather, it calls us to recognize that all we accomplish is by God’s grace.
This brings to mind the story of St. Teresa of Avila. On her way to found another monastery, she once fell off her horse into the mud. Frustrated, she cried out, “Oh my Lord, when will You stop putting obstacles in my path?” The Lord gently replied, “Do not complain, daughter. This is how I treat My friends.” To this Teresa, with her fiery spirit, responded, “If this is how You treat Your friends, no wonder You have so few.”
The story may sound humorous, but it reveals a deep truth. Even the saints, in their service to God, faced trials and humiliations. They did not seek comfort, titles, or recognition. Instead, they accepted difficulties as part of being faithful servants.
So today, we are invited to ask ourselves: Do we serve only with words, or do we serve also with deeds? Do we seek recognition, or do we allow faith, even as small as a mustard seed, to move us toward humble service? May our prayer be the same as the apostles: “Lord, increase our faith.” And may our service, whether in the family, in society, or in the Church, always bear witness not to our greatness but to God’s. Let us be a servant not only because of position or words only but by deeds.
