Luke 22: 26-27 -- True Greatness?
Rather, let the greatest among you be as the youngest, and the leader as the servant. For who is greater: the one seated at table or the one who serves? Is it not the one seated at table? I am among you as the one who serves.
Jesus flips the cultural paradigm of servitude and leadership. True leadership, Jesus teaches, is service. The disciples, during this part of the Gospel of Luke, are arguing about who among them is the greatest. And this argument, if we are honest with ourselves, is one we often observe today. We often think, Do I make enough money, have enough stuff, or possess enough authority? Am I the one who calls all the shots?
Being the parent of a teenager is one of the biggest challenges we face. And no matter how hard we try, there is always that disciple moment when we realize that we get it wrong. Being the exalted authority figure who lords it over others is not the way. Service, love, and self-sacrifice, however, are the keys to humble parenting. When I want to scream, I need to listen. When I want to dictate, I need to pause and pray. Even in the most trying parenting situations, we are called to be servant leaders. And it takes God’s grace and our cooperation to make that happen.
As we enter into Holy Week, let us all pause in prayer thanking God for the many blessings he gives. And let us all be a little more like Jesus to others. Amen.
Have a blessed week!
Stan
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