Fr. Kevin's Cluttered Desk
Sunday, September 23, 2018
“Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” We all like to be first or get the best mark or be looked up to as someone important, but Jesus turns this on its head. Once again we think like humans not like God. The whole idea of being servant of all is that idea of putting other people before ourselves. This is not so they can walk all over us, which has been one of the interpretations in the past, but being servant is about taking care of the other, giving them help when needed, but not taking away their dignity or independence.
I was once complaining to my dad about my brother being spoiled and all the things he got away with that I never could. My dad looked me in the eye and asked, “Who do you think spoiled him?” My immediate answer was “you and mom.” Instead of giving me a whack on the back of my head my dad sat me down and pointed out a number of things to me. One, when my brother was slow doing his chores, I was the one who sent him to the house and finished his chores for him. When he didn’t want to milk the cows, my other brother and I milked the cows. When he didn’t want to weed the garden, my other brother and I covered for him. Our focus was on getting something done not learning and persevering. So yes, we spoiled my younger brother. He still turned out okay, but in our focus on getting something done we made some things harder for him than they should have been. We did not do him a good service by finishing things for him. Sometimes we need to struggle, for in the struggle there is dignity. We sometimes forget there is dignity in hard work, there is dignity in suffering, for it is in the hard work and struggle that we find our true strength. Our helping our brother did not make him first and it did not make us last or servant, for it was us just getting something done. “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” Basically this comes down to a simple issue, what is your motive? The twelve were talking about power and prestige, Jesus was talking about care and compassion. My brother and I were focused on “get it done” not servant, not caring, just get it done so I can get back to something else, (a selfish intention). A good Catholic knows why they do what they do, and they should do it for the good of the other and the building up of God’s kingdom.
Peace Fr. Kevin
I was once complaining to my dad about my brother being spoiled and all the things he got away with that I never could. My dad looked me in the eye and asked, “Who do you think spoiled him?” My immediate answer was “you and mom.” Instead of giving me a whack on the back of my head my dad sat me down and pointed out a number of things to me. One, when my brother was slow doing his chores, I was the one who sent him to the house and finished his chores for him. When he didn’t want to milk the cows, my other brother and I milked the cows. When he didn’t want to weed the garden, my other brother and I covered for him. Our focus was on getting something done not learning and persevering. So yes, we spoiled my younger brother. He still turned out okay, but in our focus on getting something done we made some things harder for him than they should have been. We did not do him a good service by finishing things for him. Sometimes we need to struggle, for in the struggle there is dignity. We sometimes forget there is dignity in hard work, there is dignity in suffering, for it is in the hard work and struggle that we find our true strength. Our helping our brother did not make him first and it did not make us last or servant, for it was us just getting something done. “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” Basically this comes down to a simple issue, what is your motive? The twelve were talking about power and prestige, Jesus was talking about care and compassion. My brother and I were focused on “get it done” not servant, not caring, just get it done so I can get back to something else, (a selfish intention). A good Catholic knows why they do what they do, and they should do it for the good of the other and the building up of God’s kingdom.
Peace Fr. Kevin
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