“While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came by. When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him.”
Notice some key words here about position: “high”, and “below.” There is also “priest” and “servant.”
As it turns out, sometimes the servant girl from below can reveal more about our soul than the high priest. In fact, consider the irony: the high priest didn’t know who Jesus was, even though Jesus told him. The servant girl knew exactly who Peter was, even though Peter denied it. True eyes, true eyes.
Sure, we get all dressed up for religious services – look at me, people! But then there is the servant girl, in the shadows, the one who “looks closely” at us, and is not fooled. We would like to brush her off, but she remains. We can’t escape it: the way we respond to and treat the lowly reveals our true self.
Learn lessons in the shadows. See yourselves through the eyes of those you’re tempted to ignore. Honestly embrace the change Christ needs to make in you. If we do this, it turns out that the “servant” has served your soul well.
Gospel of Mark: Off the Beaten Path 