13 You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you speak correctly, because I am. 14 If I, your Lord and teacher, have washed your feet, you too must wash each other’s feet. 15 I have given you an example: Just as I have done, you also must do. 16 I assure you, servants aren’t greater than their master, nor are those who are sent greater than the one who sent them.
Reflection
Who can forget all of the discussion regarding essential workers during the pandemic? Especially in the beginning, we were trying to figure out who should physically go to work and who should stay home. Of course, health care workers were and are essential, but we were very quickly reminded that cashiers, stockers, and delivery workers are just as essential.
These verses remind us that God sees us all as essential.
I am a physical therapist who works with children ages birth to three in their homes. I frequently think that at any given time I am the most essential person on a kiddo’s team because kids need to be able to sit by themselves and move to do all of the other things that they need to do to grow and learn. Maybe this is good in some ways, as I focus the parents’ learning on these skills and do my best to help achieve the goals that the family established. However, in reality, especially with a child who has complex medical issues, the most important person may be the person we never see – the person who makes the formula and medications to keep them alive, and then the person who delivers the supplies so that the child can be fed through the tube in their stomach.
Do we consider the housekeeping staff at the hospital who work hard before we get there and after we arrive so that germs are kept to a minimum? When there is a spaghetti dinner fundraiser at the church, do we appreciate those in the background who are cooking and cleaning silverware? If nobody cleans the silverware from the spaghetti dinner, there won’t be forks for the funeral lunch that is coming up. As Joe said a couple of weeks ago when the tech wasn’t working, we don’t always appreciate how much has to happen behind the scenes for a service to work and for it to be streamed. I definitely appreciate those who make that happen since I worship with you online every week.
This passage reminds us that we all contribute to each other, and we all need to serve each other. As in 1 Corinthians 12, when Paul talks about the parts of the body working together, we likewise must all work together as a church and as a society. Nobody is more important or less important. We all have our roles to fill, and we should appreciate everyone’s contribution.
by Janet Waryck
For Pondering & Prayer
Are there jobs that you have overlooked? Have you ever taken a spiritual gifts survey? If you are not sure what you might be good at, you can try taking one online or contact the church office to see what opportunities there are for service. Pray about it…God may just have the very thing that you need and that needs you!
Prayer: Lord of all, please help us to appreciate all work and all positions that people have. Show us where you would want us to help to further your kingdom – in the Church and in the world. Help us to know that the Holy Spirit will go with us. Amen.