Wednesday of the Second Week of Lent

"to sit at my right and at my left,

this is not mine to give
but is for those for whom

it has been prepared by my Father.”

Matthew 20:17-28

             Service, to serve, to be a servant…these words are not strangers to us. We hear them time and time again, not only in scripture, but also in our day-to-day lives. We are told to do service or to serve others is “a good thing to do.” Why then, is it forced upon us as punishment, as a requirement for class, or looked at as simply a resume builder? Would you say that someone who conducts service under one of these three conditions is a servant? I wouldn’t. In fact, that word would not even come to mind.

            “Rather, 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.” Matthew 20:17-28

            “Whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave.” Many times we become trapped in the fad of serving. We do things because they will benefit us; they will make us look “good”, or help to develop this image that we are true, self-less people. This Lent we are not only challenged to fast and repent quietly, but to serve quietly. What then is service under this context?

            To serve, to be a servant, is to willingly act out of love and offer your gifts to         join and engage in communion with others.

            This is no easy task. We are human; therefore, we eagerly seek external affirmation. We want people to know the good works we do; we feel we need a witness. Let’s try and disengage this idea, and reengage in the service which Christ showed us. To do this, we must empty ourselves of the preconceived notion that our goodness is only validated through its recognition in another human being. This Lent, instead of fishing for these worldly “kudos,” let us relish in “kudos” from the Divine as we actively participate in service to one another.

S.B.  ‘14