Servanthood: The True Path to Greatness

 Servanthood: The True Path to Greatness

Reflection on Matthew 20:20–28

In today’s Gospel reading, we encounter a deeply human moment. The mother of James and John approaches Jesus with a bold request: that her sons might sit at His right and left in His kingdom. Like any loving parent, she wants the best for her children—honor, recognition, and closeness to Jesus. But her understanding, and that of her sons, is still clouded by worldly notions of power and glory.

Jesus responds not with rebuke, but with a profound lesson on the nature of true greatness in the Kingdom of God. He asks, “Can you drink the cup that I am going to drink?”—a reference to the suffering and sacrifice He will endure. Without fully grasping what He means, they answer, “We can.” And indeed, they will share in His sufferings, but not in the way they expect.

What follows is a clear and radical teaching: “Whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave.” Jesus turns the world’s understanding of leadership upside down. In the secular world, greatness is often measured by titles, influence, or the ability to command others. But in the eyes of Christ, greatness is found in humility, in self-giving, and in service.

Jesus Himself is the perfect model of this teaching. He says, “The Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many.” Here lies the heart of discipleship: to follow Christ is to imitate His humility and His willingness to serve others—even when it costs us comfort, recognition, or status.

For us today, this Gospel invites serious reflection. Do we seek recognition and praise for the good we do? Are we more concerned with how we appear than with how we serve? In families, in communities, in parishes—true leadership is shown not in being at the front, but in kneeling down to wash feet, figuratively and literally. Parents serve their families quietly. Volunteers work behind the scenes. Priests and religious live lives of hidden sacrifice. These are the truly great in God’s kingdom.

Let us also examine how we view others. Do we look down on those whose lives are marked by service rather than status? Jesus challenges us to value the unnoticed and the humble, to see greatness in the janitor, the caregiver, the catechist, and the one who suffers quietly for the good of others.

In our journey of faith, the call is clear: if we want to walk with Christ, we must walk the road of self-emptying love. This is not easy. It requires dying to our ego, embracing humility, and trusting that in losing ourselves for the sake of others, we find true life.

Key Takeaway:
In God’s Kingdom, greatness is not measured by power or prestige, but by humility and loving service. To be truly great, we must learn to serve as Christ served—even when no one sees.