October 21, 2018
Mark 10:35-45
Whether you choose to admit it or not, I am sure that many of you have a guilty pleasure television show. A show in which you can escape your life and immerse yourself into television for an hour or two. Many of our current television choices have extended into the realm known as reality television. We live vicariously through watching others live their lives, face their fears, or strive for success.
I admit that I enjoy Survivor and The Amazing Race and have imagined myself competing on them. You may enjoy American Idol, The Voice, Dancing with the Stars, America’s Got Talent, Big Brother, The Bachelor or The Bachelorette, or one of the many other ones that are too numerous to name. If you think about it, all these shows are competitions and the goal is to determine who is the greatest. It could be the greatest talent, greatest singer, greatest strategist, or greatest dancer. There can be a desire to be lifted above our peers and be selected as the greatest. Of course, this just doesn’t happen on reality television, but also in the Olympics, sport leagues, and even intellectually, like Jeopardy.
Now, I am not saying there is anything wrong with this, but it can lead us away from the teaching of Jesus. Jesus came to serve and through his teaching we are called to go out and be the change we want to see in the world that reflects heaven on earth.
This morning in our gospel lesson from Mark, we encounter James and John approaching Jesus asking that they be able to sit at his right and left hand in his glory. You can imagine that this starts some grumbling among the other disciples. Why do James and John think that they are better then everyone else? What gives them the right to be able to sit in positions of authority once Jesus has reached his glory?
Maybe we have it all wrong. It could be that their intentions are not really that bad. Perhaps their ambition should be applauded. Maybe they just want to show Jesus how much dedication that they have for the mission that they have been called and want to ensure that he is aware of it. In this are opportunities for the disciples to learn and for Jesus to teach. Jesus shares what it will truly mean to follow him into the reign of God.
This attitude did not begin with the disciples, and it did not end there either. All we must do is think back on some of those reality shows, and it is easy to witness the egotistical arrogant attitude of many contestants, hoping to become the greatest. The last thing that is on the mind of many of them is to serve their opponents. There will always be contests and games, but the question that should always be in the forefront of our mind, is how do we treat our opponents, either win or lose? Do we show them love as Jesus would have? Are we willing to serve them in their time of need?
Jesus was not into competition. As he states in our gospel lesson, “For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.” Jesus provided many examples for us of what it means to love our neighbors and serve them when they are in need. Jesus was always welcoming the stranger and those that were on the outskirts of society, as he talked and ate with them. Along with this, he lifted up the children and their open minds as something to model. He reached out to heal those that were sick. He was endlessly teaching the disciples and those that would gather in their midst to hear what it was he had to say. He washed the disciple’s feet. He ultimately went to the cross to show the love that he had for all of humanity. Through his death, he gave up his life and saved us from our sins. In his resurrection, we are reminded of the grace of God.
In the endless service that Jesus did, there was a love that flowed from him to all of those that he touched. Encompassed in that love is the same love and kindness that we can share with our friends, neighbors, and even the stranger. The sharing of that love starts in our own neighborhood.
This short video is a great example of what it means to serve those in our own neighborhood.
This video was also a reminder that we do not have to be the greatest. If we care for others and reach out when they are in need, we will encounter the reign of God here on earth. Christian service is about loving one another well, and as people serve others the world gets a glimpse of God.[i]
There are many ways that we have an opportunity to get that glimpse of God here at Trinity. We glimpse God through the mission trips our Mission Team makes to Haiti, the food packing event through Kids Against Hunger, our Bicycle Ministry, donating food to the food pantry, and especially through MCREST which begins this evening as we welcome 30 homeless gentlemen into our congregation for a week.
I have also witnessed glimpses of God in you, our confirmands as we have had some great conversations in class; I have seen you interact with others at camp; and as you have served in many ways over the past couple of years. You do not have to be the greatest, because you have deemed great in the eyes of Christ. I pray that you continue to extend that same love to others.
Let us pray. God of love, you have called us to acts of service so that we may reach out to our communities with love. May we continue to serve our sisters and brothers alike, with the same love you share with us. Amen.
[i] Enuma Okoro, Animate Practices video series, Augsburg Fortress, 2014.
a mysterious way 