{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"The Way","title":"Being a Servant Leader: Caring for the Least of These (part 4)","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":1267,"description":"There’s a famous story about a young man who went to confession right before Pascha.
\r\n\r\nConfession is an important part of our tradition, and Orthodox Christians try to at least get to confession during the fasting periods of the church. So, this young man was doing his religious duty … what was expected of him.

\r\n\r\nThe priest and the young man stood before the icon of Christ, and after the introductory prayers, the young man began to list his sins. 

All was well until he started to brag. \r\n\r\n“Father,” he said, “I have to confess that I’ve followed the Lenten fast perfectly! I haven’t eaten any meat, I haven’t drank any wine, I’ve been skipping my normal egg breakfast, and I’ve learned to cook without oil.” 

\r\n\r\nAs the young man continued, it became clear to the priest that this young man felt he was deserving of some sort of works-righteousness.\r\n\r\nIf this confession had been a Facebook post, it would have been #blessed!\r\n\r\nHowever, God’s grace and mercy doesn’t come to us by any efforts of our own. And, being religious is not about putting yourself up on a pillar. \r\n\r\nThe priest decided to correct this young man and show him that boasting in the fast was actually the sin of pride. 
\r\n\r\nSo, after confession was over, the priest took the young man to McDonald’s and forced him to eat a Big Mac … meat and all. \r\n\r\nWhat the young man learned that day is that what God requires of us is to love others, especially the “least of these.” And, performing religious acts, just to “feel good,” isn’t being loyal to the Bible.","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/FJjSYG1YEmm3LtRvJX1JBNFKEyJLCSaR62QzXcUxSHY/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9zaG93/LzExOTQ2LzE1OTMx/MjM5MDUtYXJ0d29y/ay5qcGc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}