But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all.
Mark 10:43-44
Today we honor Pope Gregory I or Gregory the Great, as he is often known. He was born into a wealthy family and prepared for a life of public service. However, when he was ordained a deacon, he sought to live a monastic life. It was not to be. His background and abilities suited him to be an ambassador and secretary for Pope Pelagius II and caused him to be elected Pelagius’s successor. The Roman Empire was crumbling at the time Gregory was pope, and he not only led the church; he also was responsible for the much-needed welfare system and most of the public works of Rome.
We are called to serve others in many ways. Sometimes we serve by leading, by taking on the commitment that leadership requires, and by risking criticism by those who resent or resist our leadership. Agreeing to lead can force us to give up our own desires, as it forced Gregory to abandon the monastic life. The key is to do our best to discern God’s will and to use our abilities in ways that honor God.
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