The Spiritual Servant
The Spiritual Servant
A servant is not merely a teacher or a transmitter of information. He is not just a mind, but a spirit — a great spirit united with God, having experienced life with Him and tasted how good the Lord is. He desires to share that life with others — through his feelings, his living example, his good conduct, his prayers and intercessions for those he serves, and, above all, by bringing the Spirit of the Lord into his service.
The spiritual servant is a person filled with the Holy Spirit, and therefore he overflows with that Spirit to others — for only the one who is full can overflow.
When the spirituality of the servant is right, the spirituality of his children will also be right.
The spiritual servant speaks the living, active Word of God, which leaves its effect on the listeners and does not return void.
He is one who constantly grows in the love of our Lord Jesus Christ, always remaining on a higher spiritual level than those he serves. He is an example — not only to his children but to his fellow servants as well.
The spiritual servant does not work by his own abilities, but by the gifts of the Holy Spirit working within him. He is merely an instrument moved by the Spirit in the service of the Kingdom, living always in fellowship with the Holy Spirit.
He does not allow worldly matters to distract him from his spiritual life. If he continues focusing on his own salvation, he may eventually dedicate himself entirely to serving the Lord.
The spiritual servant does not feel that he is giving in his service, but rather that he is receiving something new from God every time he serves. For him, service is a means of grace, like prayer or meditation.
The spiritual servant is a beautiful melody in the ears of the Church, a pure icon that blesses all who see it.
He continually struggles with God for the sake of his children, seeking grace for himself and for them — praying that the Lord will lead the service, provide spiritual nourishment for all, and grant them strength to walk in His way. He wets the feet of the Lord with his tears until he obtains an answer for the good of his flock.
The spiritual servant understands that preparing a lesson or sermon is not about preparing information, but about preparing himself — to be a vessel fit for the work of the Spirit. He remembers constantly the Lord’s words: “For their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.” He keeps before him the counsel of St. Paul to St. Timothy: “Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine; continue in them.” Thus he pays attention first to himself, then to his teaching, that he may save both himself and those who hear him.
The students of a spiritual servant do not need much visitation, for they long for his lessons eagerly. When they see him in church, it is as though they have found great treasure. They are edified by his presence and actions as much as — if not more than — by his words. Through his love, he binds them strongly to God and to the Church. His lessons become a desire of their souls, hearts, and minds.
The spiritual servant himself is a living lesson — more than a teacher.
He does not care about being a “successful instructor,” for such concern would contain self-centeredness. His only focus is the salvation of souls. He forgets himself in his deep concern for them and can say, as St. Paul said: “For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren.” (Romans 9:3).
The spiritual servant loves his students as God loves them — or as he himself loves God — just as it was said of Christ that He loved His own to the end.
He loves God with all his heart, and he wants them to love God as much as, or even more than, he does. His love for them grows with time — if they grow in holiness, he rejoices in admiration; if they fall, his love increases in compassion and concern for their salvation. By this love, he gives them a radiant image of religion and of God.
The spiritual servant does not merely train himself in repentance, but in perfection. And the more he grows, the more humble he becomes, realizing that the path ahead is still long.
The spiritual servant is the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Whoever meets him is enlightened and receives something divine. He is a channel of grace flowing to everyone — not only in church, but also at home, at work, and along the road. He is a servant wherever he goes.
For him, service is not confined to time, place, or formality; it is a spirit that compels him to serve everyone he meets.
The spiritual servant is a moving church, a living Gospel, and a visual example of every virtue.
If one asks, “How can a person become like this?” — it is enough to be faithful to the Lord, to seek His Kingdom and righteousness with all your heart, with all effort, and with earnest prayer and tears. Then all these things will be added to you.
The spiritual servant always feels unworthy and humble.
He feels that the sanctification of souls is beyond him — it is the work of God. He realizes that sharing in God’s work and cooperating with the Holy Spirit in building the Kingdom and purifying hearts is something far beyond his worth.
Yet, despite his sense of unworthiness, he does not flee from service; instead, this feeling drives him to deeper prayer.
He says to God continually: “It is Your work, not mine. You will accomplish it — with or without me. I am only a spectator who marvels at Your deeds. Work, O Lord, Your work; gladden the hearts of Your children. Do not withhold the grace of Your Holy Spirit because of my sins or weaknesses or shortcomings.”
By his persistent prayer, he receives grace from God for the service. And when the service succeeds, he gives all the glory to the Lord, who has done all the work.
Since we know that “Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it,” why then should we labor in vain without letting the Lord enter the work, that it may succeed and we may rest?
The true task of the successful spiritual servant is to bring God into the work.
Some servants think that faithfulness means working hard themselves, but the spiritual servant believes that perfection means allowing God to work. He must disappear so that God may appear. This does not mean idleness, but that he works — yet it is not he who works, but God who works in him. As St. Paul said: “It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.”
The spiritual servant is a faithful person who labors with all his might in service. He keeps before him the Scripture: “Cursed is he who does the work of the Lord deceitfully.” He toils so that he may be worthy for God to work with him. He struggles until God looks upon his humility and labor and lifts the burden from him. He says to himself, as David the Prophet said: “I will not enter the house of my dwelling, nor go up to the comfort of my bed, nor give sleep to my eyes nor slumber to my eyelids, nor rest to my temples, until I find a place for the Lord, a dwelling for the God of Jacob.” — a place for the Lord in every heart.
The spiritual servant burns with holy zeal.
He says with David the Prophet: “The zeal for Your house has consumed me.” And with St. Paul: “Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?” He is a man aflame in the Spirit, carrying within him the holy fire that descended on the apostles on Pentecost.
He is a flame of fire in service, doing the Lord’s work with passion, with all his heart, with all his desire, with all his zeal — faithful to his ministry unto death.
The spiritual servant always feels himself in the presence of God. His service is like an altar, and his work is as incense before the Lord.
The spiritual servant produces spiritual children. He raises them in his own likeness and example. The social servant produces socially minded children; the intellectual servant produces students filled with knowledge only. Truly, as the Scripture says: “The tree yields fruit according to its kind.” (Genesis 1:11–12).
If this is so, let us beware how we ourselves are — for our children will be like us.
The spiritual servant feels that his children are a sacred trust placed in his hands, for whom he will give account before God on the Day of Judgment. They are God’s children, whom He has entrusted to him to feed at the proper time.
Let each of you ask himself about the spirituality of his service, the spirituality of his life, and the spirituality of his children.
The spirituality of your life — for the sake of your salvation and because your life affects those you serve. The spirituality of your service — so that it may bear fruitful results in producing a new spiritual generation. And the spirituality of your children — which requires great patience and long-suffering.
The spiritual servant is patient, waiting for the seed to sprout, grow, and bear fruit. He does not grow weary when the results are delayed.
He keeps before him the apostle’s words: “We who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak.” Some souls do not bear fruit quickly, and some do not abandon their faults easily. Such souls need someone who can patiently endure until they are saved. Saint John Chrysostom said: “If a physical infant needs many months to grow and mature, how much more must we be patient for the spiritual child until he is complete.”
The spiritual servant cares for the spiritual nourishment of his children. He leads his little lambs to streams of water and to green pastures; he feeds them among the lilies.
He focuses on their spirituality and not merely on filling their minds with information.
Yet this does not mean neglecting knowledge, but using knowledge to build the spirit rather than just the intellect.
Even when the spiritual servant speaks about theological, doctrinal, or liturgical topics, he does so with a spiritual tone. Whereas the purely intellectual servant, even when he speaks about spiritual matters, turns them into theories and concepts.
Therefore, be spiritual servants and serve in a spiritual way.
I say this because I fear for this generation — one in which knowledge has greatly increased, while the spirit has diminished. It differs from past generations, when service was like a dove’s tower, resounding with hymns of divine love. For some servants began in the spirit but continued in the flesh — or in intellect, or in social work, or in politics.
Extracts from a sermon by His Holiness Pope Shenouda III at the Servants’ Conference in Alexandria, Monday evening, June 30, 1975, at St. Mark’s Cathedral.
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