Whose Serve Is It?

Today's readings: Ps 102, 148; Isa 7:10-25; 2 Thes 2:13-3:5; Luke 22:14-30

“Many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first” (Matt 19:30). After years of following Jesus, the disciples still struggled with this concept. When they sat down with him at his last Passover meal, “A dispute also arose among them as to which one of them was to be regarded as the greatest” (Luke 22:24). They were resuming an argument begun back in the ninth chapter of Luke. We can deduce these events from Matthew and Luke are thematically related, because both contain assurances from Jesus that the disciples would be rulers over the twelve tribes of Israel (Matt 19:29, Luke 22:30). How might it be significant that Luke chose to place this conversation in the context of the Last Supper?

Each time we take communion, we are reminded howJesus served at that Last Supper table. By presenting the bread and wine as his body and blood, he foreshadowed his ultimate service – following his mission through to his death. We are also reminded that, as his followers, we do not seek to glorify ourselves, but to serve.

We should not serve – should not make an effort to be “the last” – simply to secure ourselves an eventual position among “the first.” We all know people who make a great show of being humble, people who engage in the same type of public piety Jesus rebuked. Sometimes maybe we even are those people. Jesus was not offering some miracle piety formula like [Unnecessary Martyrdom] + [Self-abasement] = [First]. That would be pointless, because God already loves each and every one of us fully. He was also not teaching us to be doormats, because true service requires strength. Rather, he was teaching us the structure and society of God’s kingdom, so unlike the world we encounter. In God’s kingdom, we recognize the leadership and love of humble service.

When we leave the communion table, we leave ready to meet the world in all its need and disarray. We leave ready to share and implement the truth of the Good News. We leave ready for service for its own, holy sake.

Comfort: Odd as it may sound sometime, service is a great freedom.

Challenge: Find a way to serve, and do it without fanfare.

Prayer: God of Peace, I am your humble servant.

Evening readings: Ps 130, 16


Tomorrow's readings: Ps 90, 149; Isa 8:1-25; 2 Thes 3:6-18; Luke 22:31-38