Rooted in Service

Written anonymously by one of our OCCM servants.

July 22, 2025

 “I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20:35 

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As we complete the journey through the blessed Holy Apostles Fast, let us commemorate the labor and struggles of the Apostles who dedicated their lives to preserve the faith, through service for one another. What a blessing it is that through His humbleness, He granted us the chance to share with Him and serve His children. As we serve, we must remember that it is not the works of our own mind, but rather the Holy Spirit which continues to work in us. The Lord reminds us that "...it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.” (Matthew 10:20). By tasting the joy of laboring for Christ, we can ultimately strengthen the ministry of the entire church. 

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Let us look at our Lord, as He is the prime example for serving in humbleness. He reminds us that “... even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45). To serve others is to be Christlike. He not only tells us, but models it for us. We commemorate Covenant Thursday of the Holy Pascha week, where our Lord performed a task typically performed by the lowest servant; washing the feet of the disciples. How can our Master, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, perform such a task? Through His love and humility, He lowered Himself to demonstrate that the good servant should always be ready to serve according to their talents with no distinction.  

Each one of us has a special talent that our Lord granted us with. Through His blessings and the abundance of services, each one of us has the opportunity to serve. Thus, we must complete the obligation of serving our brothers and sisters, as we will be asked by our Lord to “Give an account of your stewardship” (Luke 16:12). In his book ‘The Spiritual Ministry’ H.H Pope Shenouda Ⅲ reminds us that “Ministry Is A Scale, A Talent, And A Responsibility”. The ministry is a critical responsibility before God and the church. If we neglect to fulfill this responsibility, there could be many who will fail to benefit from the nourishment of their souls. As young students, we are blessed that we have OCCM as a ministry that can allow us to fulfill the obligation of service. 

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OCCM has allowed myself and many others to serve with intention, and fulfill our duty of service before the Lord. As we enter this new school year and are presented with numerous opportunities to serve, we must take advantage of its blessings as it is critical, not only for our salvation but for others as well. Whether that be the small act of cleaning campus, helping at the foodbank, or even assisting in a retirement home, each service is a blessing, no matter how big or

small it is. Encourage your friends, and receive the countless blessings that come along with service. 

Let us pray that we can continually serve one another, just as our Lord served us.