A Gospel Snag

A Gospel Snag (from the Daily Office Matt 20:17-28)

                

Today’s Gospel Reading is another one of those upside-down readings that permeate our Scriptures and our understanding of God.  We have Jesus predict his passion, and then we have a mother of two disciples come and plead to Jesus that her sons be at his right and left hand in his kingdom (and what mother wouldn’t want this for her sons?).  Before Jesus gives a yes or no he asks, “Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?”  Once again Jesus puts the question (and the answer) back onto the people asking the question.  They answer back something to the like of “Absolutely!  Of course we are!”  Jesus agrees with them in word, but he knows they don’t get what the cup is.  To expand on this he then begins to talk about the difference between the politics of the world vs. the politics of the kingdom ending with the very uncomfortable statement: “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 as a ransom for many (Matt 20:26b-28).”

                

What the mother and the sons, and all the disciples are aiming for is Glory and Honor, and who can blame them?  One of the Messianic Hopes they all have is not only will they, along with their people, reclaim their dignity, but also something a bit more.  Not only are they hoping for freedom, but to rule, to dominate others.  Our disconnect, our sin, usually finds us as nations (and in many relationships) pitted into two false-options: slavery or domination.  “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them (Matt 20:25b).”  In other words, “you know how their world works: their power and authority are demonstrated only in how many people they can dominate or oppress.”  “But it is not to be that way with you.” In Jesus’ understanding of the kingdom, authority is not expressed in how many people you can oppress, but in how many people you can serve. 

             

As a postulant to the sacred order of deacons, and as a Christian, I am called to serve all people. Now, this is no small task, and this can be taken advantage of very easily by powerful and/or manipulative people in the world and in the church.  It would almost seem that this commandment from Jesus is a license for abuse.  But it is not; there is a snag.  I refer to our Book of Common Prayer in the Examination of the Candidate to be a Deacon: “In the name of Jesus Christ, you are to serve all people, particularly the poor, the weak, the sick and the lonely (BCP 543).”  As Christians we are to serve all people, but when we particularly serve the poor, the weak, the sick and the lonely, we turn the world upside-down in accordance to the vision God has for the world.  When we give preference to the least among us, we inevitably stand opposed to the power structures that are in place in this world.  Let me reiterate this Crucial Christian Concept: Authority is not understood in your power to dominate, but in your power to surrender to God, and to give to others.  To make a dichotomy: Dominative Power vs. Donative Power; the power to rule vs. the power to give.  In God’s Kingdom the greatest is the one who sees the image of God in themselves and others and acts accordingly. 

               

 Remember Jesus was offered the power to challenge the power of Rome and to rule; his response was washing his disciples’ feet.  Jesus is what we believe to be the Ultimate Revelation of God to Humanity…what then is our response?