Last Will Be First

As Jesus was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; You shall not defraud; Honor your father and mother.'” He said to him, “Teacher, I have kept all these since my youth.” Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, “You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions. Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” And the disciples were perplexed at these words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” They were greatly astounded and said to one another, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible.” Peter began to say to him, “Look, we have left everything and followed you.” Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields, for my sake and for the sake of the good news, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this age—houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.” Mark 10:17-31

From childhood we struggle to be first in line. As parents we want our children to be winners, strong, at the top of their class, excelling in everything. We wanted to be picked first for teams as children. As adults, we want our team and our team only, to win. We measure success by position, money and power. To all of this human competition, Jesus invites us to be servants of all, to willingly take the last place in line. To give power, prestige and resources away, seems a foolish way to live. That is just what living as a follower of Jesus demands - to be a follower, to serve and bless like he did.

Loving Creator, you endow us all

you made us in your very image

providing for our daily needs

and yet we ache for more than our share.

We are like little children, pushing and shoving

aching to be first, admired, recognized

our real gifts are found in what we can give

and who we can bring along with us.

May we be joyful with our place in line

may we rejoice for the daily blessing given

delight in sharing our gifts with others

and know God as we give ourselves away. Amen.