Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat; therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others; but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them.
They do all their deeds to be seen by others; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long. They love to have the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have people call them rabbi.
But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all students. And call no one your father on earth, for you have one Father—the one in heaven. Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Messiah. The greatest among you will be your servant. All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted.
New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.
As parents of four children who attended Jesuit high schools, my wife Sally and I became familiar with this Jesuit expression Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam, Latin for “For the greater glory of God.” St. Ignatius used this expression daily as a reminder of a central tenet of our faith. In today’s Gospel, Christ warns his disciples and followers to avoid letting ego cloud this central tenet. Jesus points to the hypocrisy, arrogance and self-flattery displayed by the Pharisees, all under the guise of faith. He reminds us …”The greatest among you must be your servant.”
Maybe St. Ignatius’s Prayer for Generosity (included as today’s prayer) will help serve as a reminder of how we are called to serve – for the greater glory of God.
—Curt Robey is awaiting ordination into the Permanent Diaconate in the Archdiocese of Chicago this autumn. Curt & his wife Sally live in Wilmette, IL and are the parents of four children who attended Loyola Academy & Saint Ignatius College Prep.
Prayer for Generosity
Lord,
Teach me true generosity.
Teach me to serve you as you deserve.
To give without counting the cost,
To fight heedless of wounds,
To labor without seeking rest,
To sacrifice myself without thought of any reward
Save the knowledge that I have done your will.
Amen.
—St. Ignatius of Loyola
Please share the Good Word with your friends!
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Ignatian spirituality reminds us that God pursues us in the routines of our home and work life, and in the hopes and fears of life's challenges. The founder of the Jesuits, Saint Ignatius of Loyola, created the Spiritual Exercises to deepen our relationship with Christ and to move our contemplation into service. May this prayer site anchor your day and strengthen your resolve to remember what truly matters.
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