The Cross of Service
His Holiness Pope Shenouda III speaks about the fact that true Christian service is never free from troubles and tribulations, and that every servant should place in his mind from the beginning that the path of service is a path of the cross and not a path of comfort or earthly glory.
Main Idea
His Holiness Pope Shenouda III explains that troubles are a natural part of service, citing the life of the Lord Jesus Christ and the apostles, especially Saint Paul the Apostle, who endured prisons, persecutions, hunger, hardships, and dangers for the sake of spreading the Word of God.
Spiritual and Educational Dimension
- The spiritual servant does not flee from troubles but accepts them as part of his calling.
- One must distinguish between troubles resulting from personal mistakes and troubles that come because of the service itself.
- God does not abandon His servants in tribulations, but grants them grace, strength, and solutions to problems.
- Troubles give the servant new spiritual experiences and teach him prayer, humility, and dependence on God.
- Difficult service filled with sacrifices carries a greater reward and more blessings.
- Problems in service should be solved with a spirit of meekness, calmness, and wisdom, not with anger or emotional reactions.
- Spiritual wars, obstacles, and opposition are expected in the path of service, but they become opportunities to experience God’s work and help.
- The successful servant sees every problem as spiritual training and an opportunity for growth, not as a reason for escape or despair.
- Troubles help a person acquire humility and avoid relying on personal abilities.
- Prayer and faith should increase when facing difficulties, with confidence that God leads the service and grants victory at the proper time.
General Message
Service carries a cross just as it carries a blessing, and whoever accepts its troubles with faith and humility experiences the grace of God and His work, grows spiritually, and becomes more capable of serving others according to God’s will.
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