Serving

Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.” He said to them, “You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.” And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at 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 exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:20-28

Serving

The darkness surrounds
the frost stands on end
everyone is huddled indoors
capturing the warmth inside.

We protect our investments
secure our bright futures
arm our doors and windows
and shut the real world out.

On the cold dark streets
the teacher stands with a lamp
calling us to stand with him
inviting us to undo our hard hearts.

The children who have no one
will be the line leaders
and the maligned foolish and poor
will sit at the banquet head.

Our fear keeps us from offering
and offering will wipe away fear
if we would be first let us serve
it we would be free let us be slaves.