Servants

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 favour 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

We are sitting in the living room enjoying the afterglow of a wonderful Thanksgiving. So many people were up this morning early to stand in line for Black Friday bargains. The Christmas crazies are upon us and folks are trying to be first in line to get the cool gifts. People will do anything to get the gift and be winners. Yet we are faced with a different call, a holy call to live for others, serving and caring with the kindness that most never receive. We are called to be different from the present culture and trends, carrying love through service.

Wondrous Creator, from the beginning of time you love us

Entrusting us with this verdant and beautiful planet

Love bubbling up all over despite our behavior.

Running with anxiety we push to the line’s front

Ignoring the pain and suffering of those waiting

And living for ourselves and our gain alone.

Oh Lord, let us be servants in your name

Sharing love and hope in these bitter times

Making room for all in this broken world. Amen.