37 — THE LAST PLACE

Presence of God. — O Jesus, who said: “I have not come to be served but to serve” (cfr. Mt. 20, 28), teach me to love the last place.

Meditation

1 — Jesus not only with words, but also by example showed us that He came not to be served, but to serve; and He wished to reserve this example for the eve of His Passion, as if to leave it to us in testament, together with His final and most precious teachings. Before instituting the Eucharist, He, like any slave, “began to wash the disciples’ feet” and, when He had finished, He said: “I have given you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you,” because “the servant is not greater than his master, nor the apostle greater than he who sent him” (Jn. 13, 15 and 16). The teaching is clear: if you want to be a true disciple of Jesus, you must, like Him, humble yourself; and consider that here it is not only a matter of humbling yourself before God, but also before your neighbor. To consider yourself as servant in your relations with God is not difficult, but to consider yourself servant and behave as such in your relations with neighbor is more difficult. More difficult still is to let yourself be treated as servant, that is, without regard, without consideration at all, even by one inferior to you. And yet Jesus, infinitely superior to all, willed to be treated not only as servant, but as slave, and also as malefactor. As before God humility places you in a place of inferiority, of absolute dependence, so before neighbor it makes you take “the last place.” “Woe to you, who love the first place in synagogues” (Lk. 11, 43), Jesus said to the Pharisees condemning the hunt for first places, offices and honorable posts; and He added: “When you are invited, go and sit in the last place” (Lk. 14, 10). As far as it depends on you, in whatever setting you find yourself, always try to choose the last place, but do it with simplicity and ease, so that no one, noticing it, comes to invite you to pass to the first. Such an invitation await only from God, and not in this life, but in the other.

2 — During the Last Supper Jesus wanted to give the Apostles another lesson in humility; while they were discussing which of them should be considered the greater, He admonished them: “Let the greatest among you be as the youngest, and the one who governs as one who serves,” for I too “am among you as one who serves” (Lk. 22, 26-27). When Jesus speaks of our relations with neighbor, He always insists that each one take the place of servant and consider himself servant of others. He said it when He presented a child as model of perfection: “If one wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all” (Mk. 9, 34), and He repeated it when He warned His disciples not to imitate the proud conduct of the Pharisees: “The greatest among you shall be your servant” (Mt. 23, 11). It is clear: for followers of Christ the place of honor, of privilege, is the place of servant; and the divine Master insists that precisely those who occupy first places be the most zealous in becoming servants of all.

Therefore, if you have some authority over your neighbors, you must think that it was given you not for your honor, but for others’ service. If then nothing distinguishes you from the common level, do not push yourself forward to put yourself on display; and finally if your place is that of inferior, occupy it willingly, never seeking to leave it. In assigning you a humble place, God Himself has taken care to make you practice humility; this is one of the greatest graces He has given you and you seek to correspond by exercising yourself much in this virtue.

“The only thing not envied is the last place - said St. Therese of the Child Jesus - and only in it there is no vanity and affliction of spirit” (CR.).

Colloquy

“O Lord, when You were pilgrim here below You said: ‘Learn from Me, for I am meek and humble of heart, and you shall find rest for your souls.’ Well then, my soul finds rest in seeing You, mighty Monarch of heaven, clothed in the form and nature of a slave, humbling Yourself even to washing the feet of Your Apostles. I remember then those words You pronounced to teach me to practice humility: ‘I have given you the example, that as I have done, so you may do also. The disciple is not greater than his Master... Knowing these things, you shall be blessed if you practice them.’ With the help of Your grace I understand these words, O Lord, coming forth from Your humble and sweet Heart, and I want to practice them with the help of Your grace.

“I want to lower myself humbly and submit my will to that of others, without contradicting them in anything and without examining whether they have or do not have the right to command me. No one had this right over You; yet You obeyed not only the Blessed Virgin and St. Joseph, but even Your executioners.

“O Lord, You could not humble Yourself more to teach me humility; I therefore want to answer Your love by putting myself in the last place, and by sharing in Your humiliations so as later to have part with You in the kingdom of Heaven.

“I beg You, my divine Jesus, to send me a humiliation every time I try to raise myself above others.

“But, Lord, my weakness is known to You; every morning I form the purpose of practicing humility, and every evening I recognize that I have still committed many faults. At this sight I am tempted to discouragement; but I know that discouragement too is pride; therefore I rather want, O my God, to found my hope in You alone. Since You are omnipotent, deign to cause the virtue I desire to be born in my soul” (T.B.G. St.; Prayers).