43 But that’s not the way it will be with you. Whoever wants to be great among you will be your servant. 44 Whoever wants to be first among you will be the slave of all, 45 for the Human One[e] didn’t come to be served but rather to serve and to give his life to liberate many people.”
Reflection
That’s not the way it will be with you….
As I explored the context of today’s passage I found that this was Jesus’ reply to James and John as they tried to understand their call to ministry (as recorded in Mark 43:35-38 from The Message) “ 35 James and John, Zebedee’s sons, came up to him (and said) ‘Teacher, we have something we want you to do for us.’ 36 ‘What is it? I’ll see what I can do.’ 37 ‘Arrange it,’
they said, ‘so that we will be awarded the highest places of honor in your glory—one of us at your right, the other at your left.’
What came to mind as I reflected was my own journey through ministry. I didn’t originally think of my call as an invitation to servanthood because I was a young adult and that wasn’t part of my vocabulary yet, and I suspect that James and John may have felt much the same. Like those first disciples, I had no idea what was unfolding in my life. As I studied theology
and all that is offered at seminary my heart became open to countless possibilities for serving within the UMC. Through the process of exploration of ministry and my seminary training God, my husband, the Annual Conference, and I came to the decision that I was called to serve as a
Diaconal Minister, a specially trained lay person rather than following the path to ordination. After graduating from Drew Theological School, I was certified as a Diaconal Minister with a Certificate in Christian Ed and a passion for social concerns. I was hired by a local church to oversee faith development for all ages and locations. Seven years later I was ordained as a UM Deacon and my journey through servant ministry continued in a variety of settings in local churches in NJ and AZ, as well as the staff of the Greater NJ Conference. Repeatedly Spirit has whispered in my ear “No, that’s not the way it will be with you…”.
by Kathleen Stolz
For Pondering and Prayer
Today’s passage is a guide for everyone who gives their time and talents in serving others and it is a key component of all the world religions. What Jesus described to James and John was the humility of servanthood: a freedom from pride or arrogance with a willingness to submit to the needs of others as well as often prioritizing their well-being over one’s own.
In the words of the late Thich Nhat Hanh “Every day we can say something that has the capacity to heal and help people. A grown-up can do this. A child can do this. A business-person, a politician, or a teacher can do this. We don’t need to wait for a special moment.”
Following in the footsteps of Jesus can be as simple as offering a smile to the cashier at the grocery store as you offer a sincere “thank you” and a cheerful “have a great day!”
Is there something burning on your heart? Is God calling you to serve in some new adventure?
Prayer: Loving Lord, we give you thanks for the opportunities that greet us every day to serve the needs of others. Abundant Creator, open our hearts to all those who don’t have enough food, water, or housing and listen to the ways our church answers those needs. Giver of Life, encourage us to take steps to serve the scarcity in our world through simple acts of kindness or by joining the ministries of others. Eternal One, remind us every day of the words we learned as children “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Amen.
