Master and Servant

Today's gospel shows a very human power struggle at play within Jesus' group of disciples. It was inevitable that one or more of them would want to be the favorite. This is the kind of dynamic that you'd see within any kind of group, office environment, team, or even clique of friends. Jesus challenges them:

“You do not know what you are asking.
Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?”

Essentially: Do you really want what I'm about to face? 

In the tradition of Jeremiah (from today's Old Testament reading), Jesus anticipates that his teaching won't be well received, and it will mean trouble for him. Perhaps he's already hearing murmurs of it; it's probably not a coincidence that in yesterday's gospel, he was calling out the Pharisees on their hypocrisy and pomposity. Today, he reminds his disciples that God will be the one calling them to their appropriate places and roles within whatever this movement is to become. To me it's an indication that Jesus is admitting that he isn't in charge any more than his disciples are; rather, he's following what he believes to be God's will for him, and for all of them.

Whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant;
whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave.
Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve
and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

I hear a kind of admonishment that leadership isn't about being exalted but about making yourself the servant, making sacrifices for the good of all.

Of course, these words had far greater implications for Jesus and his disciples. But here and now, I take them as a reminder that the gifts I have been given aren't meant to raise me up, but for me to raise up those around me.