True Servant Leadership

While Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside by themselves, and said to them on the way, ‘See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death; then they will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified; and on the third day he will be raised.’ Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to him with her sons, and kneeling before him, she asked a favor of him. And he said to her, ‘What do you want?’ She said to him, ‘Declare that these two sons of mine will sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.’ But Jesus answered, ‘You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?’ They said to him, ‘We are able.’ He said to them, ‘You will indeed drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left, this is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.’ When the ten heard it, they were angry with the two brothers. But Jesus called them to him and said, ‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. It will not be so among you; but whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave; just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.’ Matthew 20:17-28

For many leaders, throwing around the term "servant leadership" seems to make them more acceptable as they sail around in yachts and live in gated communities. Too many folks who ache to be in charge, have never even waited tables, scrubbed gross bathrooms or lugged water for miles. I'm not talking about cultural tourism; camp experiences or an annual meal served at a shelter. I'm talking about life as a servant, overlooked, bossed around and underpaid. Few of us even notice the people who are serving us. Jesus is calling us today to be the overlooked not the stars, the ones who get things done away from the cameras and the attention. Gratitude, humility and respect for those who are truly willing to be servant leaders.

Loving Creator, you put us here for a season

to learn how to serve our fellow human beings

and to care for all of your precious creation.

Instead, we dream of stardom and adoration

we ignore the needs around us so we can shine

and lose the love that was ours by our birth.

Lord Jesus, make us humble and joyful today

ready to get down and serve the least among us

so your love might shine through us in dark times. Amen.