Ruling And Serving

Iesus autem vocans eos ait illis: Scitis quia hi qui videntur principari gentibus dominantur eis, et principes eorum potestatem habent, ipsorum. Non ita est autem in vobis, sed quicunque voluerit fieri maior, erit vester minister: et quicunque voluerit in vobis primus esse, erit omnium servus. Nam et filius hominis non venit ut ministraretur ei, sed ut ministraret et daret animam suam in redemptionem pro multis. Iesus autem vocans eos tanquam benignus doctor humilitatis, et tangitur hic communis omnium salutis instructio contra fastum tumoris, qui eis surrepserat: et ostenditur via salutaris ad reganandum cum Christo. Tanguntur autem hi: tria, scilicet, fastus gentium in regno terreno: disimilitudo ad illos regnantium cum Christo: et exempli subiectio in Dei Filio. Dicit igitur quia per ea quae in mundo videris hoc scire potestis. Hoc dicit quia dominatus secularis magis est umbra et phantasma quam veritas sine legibus gentium, sicut ordinari in principes, sed per tyrannidem opprimunt pauperes, sicut Nemroth violenta dominatione et ambitione dominatus et potestatis. Tradam Aegyptum in manu Dominorum crudelium: et rex fortis dominabitur eis. Qui dominamini in nihilo, qui dicitis, Nunquid non in fortitudine nostra assumpsimus nobis cornua? et vel potius tyranni oppressorum quam pro viribus et non secundum iudicium et iustitiam exercent in eos. Reges gentium dominantur eorum: et qui potestatem habent inter eos, benefici vocantur. Sic non inter erit vos: sed quicunque doctrina est viae ad regnandum cum Christo per viam humilitatis. Et ideo dicit: discipulos meos in gloria mea sicut minor, qui ad obsequia est deputatus. Qui maior est in vobis, fiat sicut minor: et qui praecessor, sicut ministrator. Quicunque humiliaverit se sicut parvulus iste: hic maior est in regno caelorum dignitate in gloria regni mei: ille per actum humilitatis et ministeris quantum ab obsequium. Et Qui se humiliat, exaltabitur. Gloriam praecedit humilitas. Sapientia humiliati exaltabit caput illius, et in medio magnatorum confidere illum faciet. Qui humiliatus fuerit erit in gloria. Ponit seipsum in exemplum, in carnem et in mundum formam servi accipiens, in similitudinum hominum factus, exinaniens semetipsum: et ideo hoc est, ut serviatur ei. Nam quis maior est? Qui recumbit, aut qui ministrat? Ego autem in medio vestrum sum sicut qui ministrat. Ecce intelliget servus meus: et admirabitur et exaltabitur et sublimis erit valde. Et tangit maximum quod exhibuit ministerium: et dicit in pignus efficaciter, sed pro omnibus sufficienter. Apud Dominum misericordia, et copiosa apud eum redemptio. Dedi dilectam animam mean in manus inimicorum eius. Ipse est propitiatio pro peccatis nostris: non solum autem pro nostris, sed etiam pro totius mundi. Sanctus Albertus Magnus Commentarium In Evangelium Divi Marci Source: Volumen 9, pdf p384

Jesus, calling them, said: You know that princes of the Gentiles rule over them and the rulers have power over them. It shall not be so with you, but whoever wishes to be great he shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you, he shall be a servant of every one. For even the Son of Man did not come that He be served but that He serve and give His soul for the redemption of many. 1 As a kind teacher of humility Jesus calls them, and His teaching touches on the common salvation of all, against the haughtiness of puffing up which had crept up on them, and the way of salvation to rule with Christ is shown. These three things are touched on, first the arrogance of the peoples in their worldly kingdoms, then how ruling with Christ is dissimilar to them, and then is given the example of the subjection of the Son of God. He says, therefore, that by the things you see in the world you know this of power. He says this because worldly power is more a shadow and a phantasm than the truth. As the peoples are without the law, so their princes are established, who by tyranny oppress the poor, like Nimrod who with violent domination and ambition ruled and held power. 2 'I shall hand over Egypt into the hands of cruel lords, and a mighty king shall dominate them.' 3 'You who rule in nothing, you say: Is it not that by our own strength we lift up our horns? ' 4 And they rule rather as tyrants of the oppressed than for men: they do not exert themselves according to judgement and righteousness among them. 'The kings of the nations rule over them, and he who has power among them they call benefactors. It shall not be so among you,' 5 but the teaching of the way to rule with Christ is by the way of humility. And therefore He says: My disciples in my glory are like a youth who has been appointed to serve. 'He who is greater among you let him be like the least, and who is a leader let him be a servant.' 6 'Whoever shall humble himself like this little one, he is greater in the kingdom of heaven,' 7 in the glory of my kingdom, by the act of humility and as much as he ministers in service. 'And he who humbles himself will be exalted.' 8 'Humility comes before glory.' 9 'The wisdom of the humble man shall exalt his head and it shall set him securely in the midst of the great.' 10 'He who was humble shall be glorified.' 11 Then He gave Himself as example, in the flesh and in the world 'taking on the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of a man, emptying Himself,' 12 and so He is that He might serve. 'For who is greater? He who reclines or he who serves? And I am in the midst of you as a servant.' 13 'Behold, my servant understands, and he shall be admired and exalted and lifted up to the heights.' 14 And it touches on the greatest that He has shown service, and He says He acts as surety, but indeed it is enough for all. 'With the Lord is compassion and a wealth of redemption.' 15 'I gave my beloved soul into the hands of the enemy.' 16 He is a propitation for our sins, not only for ours, but even for the whole world. Saint Albert The Great, Commentary On The Gospel of St Mark 1 Mk 10.42-45 2 Gen 10.8-10 3 Isaiah 19.4 4 Amos 6.13 5 Lk 22.25 6 Lk 22.26 7 Mt 18.4 8 Lk 18.14 9 Prov 15.33 10 Sirach 11.1 11 Job 22.29 12 Philip 2.7 13 Lk 22.27 14 Isaiah 52.13 15 Ps 129.7 16 Jerem 12.7