Tuesday, February 25 : Saint Augustine

He who stands at the people’s head must first understand that he is servant of all. Let him not disdain this service… since the Lord of lords (1Tim 6,15) did not disdain to put himself at our service. Fleshly impurity had infiltrated Christ’s disciples as a desire for greatness; the smoke of pride covered their eyes. Indeed, we read that: “An argument broke out among them about which of them should be regarded as the greatest” (Lk 22,24). But our Lord and healer stood by; he rebuked their presumption… He showed them an example of humility in a little child… For pride is a great evil and the origin of sin… And so Paul the apostle recommends humility among the other virtues of the Church’s leaders (cf. 1Tim 3,6)… When our Lord spoke to his apostles so as to strengthen them in humility, he said to them as he put forward the example of the child: “Whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant” (Mt 20,26)… I am talking to you as a bishop and my warnings make me afraid myself… Christ came “not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mk 10,45). That is how he served; these are the kinds of servants he commands us to be. He gave his life; he redeemed us. Which of us could redeem someone? We were redeemed from death by his death, by his blood. We who were stretched out on the earth have been raised up again by his humility. But we, too, are to play our little part for his members, for we have been made his members. He is the head, we the body (Eph 1,22). And the apostle John encourages us to follow him: “He laid down his life for us, so we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers” (1Jn 3,16).
Roman Catholic Ordinary Calendar – rosary,team