ACC ~ John 13 v16

HUMILITY HAS GREAT POTENTIAL

CYPRIAN: [I]f “the servant is not greater than his Lord,” let those who follow the Lord humbly and peacefully and silently tread in his steps, since the lower one is, the more exalted one may become, as the Lord says, “He that is least among you shall be the greatest.” [1] LETTER 6.4. [2]

[1] Lk 9:48.

[2] ANF 5:284-85*; Letter 13.4 in CCL 3B:76.

THIS MASTER WANTS HIS SERVANTS TO REACH THEIR POTENTIAL

ORIGEN: The Savior, who is Lord, does something that surpasses all other lords, who have no desire to see their servants rise up to their level. He is such a Son of the Father’s goodness and love that, although he was Lord, he produced servants who could become like him, their Lord, not having the spirit of bondage, which comes from fear, but the spirit of adoption in which they too cry, “Abba, Father.” So then, before becoming like their teacher and lord, they need to have their feet washed because they are still deficient disciples who possess the spirit of bondage to fear. But when they attain the stature of master and lord … then they will be able to imitate their master and wash the disciple’s feet as the teacher. COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 32.120-22. [1]

[1] FC 89:365**; SC 385:240.

OF THE SAME MIND AS THEIR MASTER

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: He points out here what an inadmissible offense it would be for servants to refuse to be of the same mind as their own masters. Such a passionate longing for greater and higher things than our merits deserve is really covetousness and nothing else. And he would be perfectly just in bringing the same charge against the apostles, namely, of seeking to be on a higher level than he who commissioned them, if they acted like this. The mind of the One who sent them should be a sufficient yardstick of the glory they seek. It is as if he were saying You will be laughed right out of the divine tribunal if your pride gets in the way of doing for each other what I have done for you. You are servants. I, on the other hand, have always been from the very beginning, by nature, your God and Lord. It would be preposterous and the height of madness for servants who, by definition, are inferior to their master, to be ashamed at the idea of being servants to one another. COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 9. [1]

[1] LF 48:184-85**.