September 23, 2012 17h Sunday After Pentecost

Mark 9:30-37

   30 They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, 31 because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.” 32 But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it.
   33 They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” 34 But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest. 35 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” 36 He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, 37 “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”
 “Be The Servant Of All”

It isn’t always easy to be a servant of God.  It wasn’t for Jeremiah, the disciples, nor those to whom James wrote.  It didn’t come naturally for them nor does it for us.  It is almost contrary to our basic nature - self-preservation; taking care of #1.

It is easier to condemn and judge than to serve.
We never know enough about God to pronounce judgment on another person.
Our task as servants is to work and pray for forgiveness, understanding, reconciliation, peace.  And to learn to appreciate differentness.

To be a servant is to place oneself last and not worry about what I am going to get out of it.
It is to be like Jesus who “did not regard equality with God something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant.”  (Phil. 2:6,7)

“Celebrity Or Servant”
 
“Two centuries ago when a great man appeared, people looked for God’s purpose in him; today we look for his press agent.”

“We can make a celebrity, but we can never make a hero.”

“We loose sight of the men and women who do not simply seem great because they are famous but who are famous because they are great.”

The hero was distinguished by his achievement; the celebrity by his image or trademark.
The hero created himself; the celebrity is created by the media.  The hero was a big man; the celebrity is a big name.”

“A celebrity is a person who is known for his well-knownness.  He is the human psedo-event.”
Quotes from Daniel Boorstien’ “IMAGE”, pp. 45-76
Chapter “From Hero to Celebrity: the Human Pseudo-Event”

We all have a desire hidden within us to be a celebrity.  We would like to do our thing in a big way.  Yet it is as a servant that we have been called, to do our thing in a small way, often unnoticed but by God, and maybe those who are on the receiving end of our serving.

We are called to be servants and to get lost in doing good, without keeping score.