October 18 - Pentecost + 20

Jesus Serves with Love
Mark 10:32-45
Pentecost + 20 – October 18, 2009

Once upon a time, back when I was in junior high, I played softball. Some of you have heard about the time I tried to play shortstop, and ended up with two black eyes just in time for my confirmation – but mostly I played catcher. I played catcher for a lot of years. And some how or other, when I was in 9th grade, I made the rec. league's All-Star team.

And I was happy to be on the team, proud of my accomplishment, glad that my years of practice & hard work had finally gotten me the recognition I wanted. But I wasn't the only catcher who made the team. Makes sense, right? You've gotta have a back-up for all the various positions.

Only problem was, it turned out that I was the back-up. And when the time came for us to play an actual game, the other girl, Kelly was her name, started. And not only did she start, she played the entire game. It must have been a close game, and Kelly was better than I was, so I kept the bench warm for the whole game. Now I really don't remember the details of that day, who we were playing or what the score was, but I do know that I was upset! I was indignant! I was hurt! This was like a 7th-9th grade league, so this was my one & only chance to play on the All-Star team, & I didn't even get to play! It's like what all the people who don't win an Oscar say, “It's an honor just to be nominated.” Except it wasn't! It wasn't enough to me that I had made the team in the 1st place. I wanted to play, I wanted whatever status goes along with being good. I wanted to be a star on the All-Stars.

Which is what James & John make me think of in this gospel story. These two brothers are on the Jesus All-Star discipleship team. They made the cut long ago, when Jesus saw them mending their nets in their boat & called them to come & follow him, and they dropped everything & followed. And James & John could do me one better, because unlike me, they actually got to play. They're on the 1st string. They have followed Jesus & learned from him & been sent out to cure the sick & heal the lame & bring the good news with the other 10 disciples. And you could even say that they are co-captains with Peter – they are in Jesus' inner circle, his closest disciples, the ones who see his Transfiguration on the mountain top, the ones he will take with him to pray in the Garden of Gethsemane.

And yet, it's not enough. They want more. They want to cement their status, secure their positions, to make sure that when Jesus is crowned king (which he clearly will be, nevermind all this stuff he has been saying – 3 times, even- about how he will be handed over & beaten & killed) – that when he becomes king in Jerusalem, they will have the highest places of honor and privilege and authority. They will continue to have Jesus' ear, & finally have the power to change things. They'll be able to change this old world's corrupt systems from the inside – if Jesus will just put them in charge under himself...

And we're kind of shocked by this. The other gospels that say their mother was the one who asked for this favor kind of soften the blow. Because it's such a naked grab for power. But can we really blame them for trying? We can shake our heads at their selfishness, scoff at their ambitions, be dismayed at their delusions of what is to come and how they just don't get it, but we're really not that different ourselves. We all want to move up in the world. We want our efforts to be recognized and rewarded. We want other people to see how skilled we are, how talented we are, how important we are. We want others to acknowledge us and what we have to offer & give us something in return. We just want our fair share; we want what's coming to us. Maybe we wouldn't be quite so bold as James & John, who just flat-out ask for a promotion, but probably we relate to the other disciples, who get angry – because you know that secretly, they were all hoping Jesus would pick them for those 2 seat themselves! Because just like them, most of us want to be a star on the All-Star team.

But Jesus tells James & John & the rest of them, again, that they've got it all wrong. Maybe he's thinking that the 3rd time's a charm! If they haven't figured it out by now, here's their chance – and ours too! Over & over again in these chapters, as Jesus & the disciples move ever closer to Jerusalem, to Palm Sunday, to what we now know as Holy Week, towards Good Friday, and the cross, and death, which is really where Jesus will come into his glory – with 2 criminals to be at his right and his left hand – over & over, Jesus has told them what he is in for, what is coming for him & for them, and he has taught them again & again that true life can't be found by playing by the rules the rest of the world plays by. True life can't be found in gaining lots of money and possessions, or even the whole world – if it means giving up your soul! True life can't be found in comparing yourself to others and trying to figure out who is the greatest. True life can't be found in grasping at positions of power, in looking for ways to win friends & influence people for personal gain. True life isn't found by being a star among All-Stars.

No, Jesus says, true greatness, true life is found, not in lording what you have & who you are over other people, but in serving others, not out of fear, & certainly not because we want some kind of recognition or reward, but in love, just as Jesus did. Jesus never thrust himself into positions of privilege, never hung out just with the high & mighty – instead, he reached out to the down & out. Jesus is the Messiah not because he came & conquered the world with the love of power – instead he transformed the world with the power of love.

And that's what he calls us to do, if we're willing to follow, we who have been touched by his love: to serve Jesus by serving others, by putting the needs of others before our ambitions, before our pride. The power of his love changes people, changes us – and it is his love, flowing through us & through all his people who are willing to serve, that will ultimately change the world into a place where rank and status and money and power don't matter any more, because we will find our life & greatness in following the one and only All-Star, Jesus.
Amen!