Serving as Community
Do you like being waited on?
A dispute also arose among them as to which one of them was to be regarded as the greatest. But he said to them, ‘The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you; rather the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. - Luke 22:24-27
I have no idea what it is like living as royalty, with people waiting on me hand and foot, like in Downton Abbey. I would find it uncomfortable, though I have no problem being served at a restaurant.
It is odd because in both cases I am paying for the service, but I guess the setting matters.
Everyday, people come to help us prepare and serve a meal to the hungry. They are not paid for this work. They do it for a variety of reasons, and though they may find it enjoyable, they take it very seriously. It is not just work. It is something deeper than that.
I believe that is what Jesus was trying to get his disciples to see. Service is ministry.
Service is contagious, if we let it be so. The people we serve often ask to help serve others, and that, I believe, is the point.
Our goal should be to let everyone serve. Then we are all able to be the one who helps as well as the one helped. It becomes a leveler. No one is greater than anyone else that way.
In the soup kitchen, those who have serve those who don't, and at first that may seem like a class difference, but when everyone gets a chance to serve, that distinction goes away.
When we cannot tell the rich from the poor, the haves from the have nots, we are on our way to community.
If God saw it as important to take the time and trouble to become one of us to show us how to serve one another, I guess the least we could do is give it a try.
So, why not make it part of your Christmas giving this year. Volunteer to serve.
You will probably get more out of it than you put in.
More to come...