Pope urges service over power, following Jesus' example

During a recent homily, Pope Francis delivered a powerful message on the importance of service over power, drawing from Jesus' encounter with the disciples James and John in the Gospel of Mark. 

This message was shared during the canonization of 14 new saints, including 11 martyrs who were killed in Syria for refusing to renounce their faith, on October 20.

When Jesus asked them, “What do you want me to do for you?” (Mark 10:36), and later, “Can you drink the cup I will drink?” (Mark 10:38), He was not only addressing their immediate requests but also prompting deeper reflection on their true desires and understanding of discipleship.

The Pope highlighted that while Santiago and John sought positions of honor beside Jesus in His glory, their request reflected a misunderstanding of His mission. They imagined a victorious, powerful Messiah who would grant them status. 

However, Jesus, through His questions, gently redirected their focus away from worldly power and towards the true nature of His role—a servant who offers His life for others.

“The victor is not the one who dominates, but the one who serves out of love,” Pope Francis declared, reminding the faithful that Jesus came not to be served, but to serve. 

The Pope stressed that this call to service, embodied in Jesus' life and sacrifice, should challenge all Christians to rethink their pursuit of power and recognition. Instead, they are called to serve with compassion, humility, and love.

Referring to the cup that Jesus would drink—His suffering and death on the cross—the Pope pointed out that the path to true greatness in the eyes of God involves self-giving and service, not the pursuit of glory. 

Jesus' crucifixion, flanked not by figures of power but by two thieves, reveals the ultimate expression of servanthood, transforming suffering into a victory of love.

Pope Francis urged believers to reject the world’s standards of power and dominance and to adopt “the style of God,” which is marked by closeness, compassion, and tenderness. 

“God draws near to serve; He becomes compassionate to serve; He becomes tender to serve,” he said, encouraging Christians to embrace this way of life.

In his closing remarks, the Pope reflected on the lives of newly canonized saints, praising their dedication to service rather than personal ambition. 

These saints, he noted, followed Christ’s example by serving others with generosity, creativity, and unwavering commitment, even in the face of challenges.

Pope Francis called on all Christians to follow this path, reminding them that service is not just a task to complete, but a way of life rooted in love. As the Pope concluded, “When we learn to serve, every gesture of attention and care becomes a reflection of God’s love.”