In today’s gospel Jesus reminds us that He loves all of us equally. Did the disciples really think they could argue about who is the greatest without Jesus knowing? Haven’t they learned by now that nothing happens outside of God’s plan?
Jesus responds ever so gently. He does not rebuke them, but instead calls them to focus on being servants. So is that going to make them less competitive or will they just try to out do each other in terms of quality and impact. I can hear them now, I healed 5 people today how many did you heal?
But this is not how Jesus calls us to serve. It is like the poor woman who could only afford a coin for her offering, but it was all she had. So if you volunteer somewhere weekly, that is great, thank you. And if you only volunteer once a month, that is great too. Thank you.
Jesus only wants us to respond in willingness and love. So our willingness to welcome Jesus in prayer and in service no matter how that looks is not a waste of time and gives us the heart of a servant. Perhaps you are caring for a child, or a sick parent or an elderly neighbor. Perhaps you are praying for those within your parish and church community who are sick or who have died. Perhaps you willing to imitate Christ’s humility by allowing others the last word.
Jesus promised that those who become the “last of all and the servant of all” are the first.
So what makes you a servant?
