Daily Office Readings for Thursday of Proper 7: Year 2
Morning, Psalm 105:1 to 22; Evening, Psalm 105:23 to 45;
Numbers 17:1 to 11; Romans 5:1 to 11; Matthew 20:17 to 28:
“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: 26 – 28)
Jesus has just heard the plea of John, and James (his brother) along with their mother, to share seats of glory in the kingdom of Jesus. It appears that she asks Jesus to let her sons be on his right and left side in his kingdom. To this Jesus explains, it is not his to give. The other apostles find out and are angered by the request. Jesus calls them all together and explains the difference between this world and heaven. On earth we have a lordship of tyranny where we rule by threats, money concerns and punitive measures. In heaven, it is a kingdom of servanthood. The whole idea of king and servant is turned upside down.
I’m guessing the problem I have with the language of Jesus, as it is translated and spoken in Matthew, is the part about “whoever wishes to be “great” among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be “first” among you must be your slave.” These words still show the continued goal of seeking the self-serving glory of being great, or, of being first. Can we not live to serve and be happy with serving without looking forward to sitting on the right or left hand of our Lord and Savior in some kind of shared glory? Once we learn to be happy by serving others, we can be happy anywhere, even anywhere here on earth, in this life. Let’s just be okay helping others to be okay; Ok?
Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, and our schools including St. Augustine in Raleigh, North Carolina.
As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and serve, and to teach others to love and serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John
Let us pray:
O Most Holy Counselor Lord Jesus, as you have set the example of real joy that can only be obtained through patience and kindness while practicing servanthood to others, stay with us in our sad failures and humble successes as we continually try to follow your lead in our daily lives; Amen.
onewhoponders 