A member of the congregation told me how lucky he was that he had two tickets to the Ohio State/Indiana football game yesterday. It was his only opportunity. He had been waiting patiently all summer to see if by some chance he would get to go to a game. There is nothing like having a reserved seat at OSU stadium on a Saturday afternoon. It’s about as close to heaven as you can get.
Monday morning I was working in the office when a young man walked in with a back pack. It just so happened that I knew him. He had worked all weekend but had nowhere to sleep. He had no reserved seat. He was homeless. All he wanted was a room so he could get some rest. He wasn't asking for money. He was tired, hungry and didn’t know who could help him. We discussed his options which I determined were all futile. He just needed somewhere to stay for a few nights. I thought about the empty bedroom at my house and out of fear of entering into a long term relationship I didn’t mention that as a possibility. I thought of my son who has a spare bedroom. But, it wouldn’t be fair to impose on him. Finally I made a few phone calls and found a place for him to stay. I gave him lunch and drove him to his temporary residence.
So many times I am approached and most of the time it is someone just wanting money. This case was different. I was his last resort. This incident reminds me of our story today, where Jesus invites his followers to be servants. It haunts me. I am acutely aware of what he meant. But, like most people, there are times when I simply don’t have the energy to get involved.
Recently the world lost one of its most contemporary saints, Mother Teresa. She was a saint because of her commitment to serving the sick and the poor. She sought no fame for herself although the world recognized her for her greatness by giving her the Nobel Peace Prize. A statement was made from the cabinet in India that she was "devoted to bringing love, peace and joy to the people whom the world generally shunned." Coretta Scott King, wife of Martin Luther King, said, "Our world has lost the most celebrated saint of our times. This courageous woman gave hope to millions, and showed us the power of caring and human kindness."
You are probably not aware of Mother Teresa’s Ohio connection. She received an honorary degree from John Carroll University and appeared and spoke in Cincinnati on three occasions, the last in l982. She said to a crowd of 3,500 at Covington High School that "the hungry need more than food, they also need love."
What made her so great? Was it the fact that society adorned her with awards and degrees? Or was it the thousands of witnesses who watched her give of herself, the recipients of her love? The Catholic Church will likely elevate her to official sainthood in the future. But, does it really matter? We all know her because of her service. Why is it necessary to give her a prize? Don’t you think that God has already reserved a seat for her?
This is exactly what was happening with the disciples. They were arguing about their "status" in heaven. "Who will have the best seat?" they asked. Their primary concern was with benefits and awards, not with service.
Of course Jesus turned the tables on them. "If you want to be great", he said, "then you must be a servant." This is not what they wanted to hear. This is not what we want to hear. We live in a culture that nurtures upward mobility. We are conditioned to be winners. We want to be remembered for our accomplishments and we want to recognize others as well. Why?
First, we deserve it. We believe that as long as we are doing good we should be rewarded. Some of you received a star for bringing your bibles to class. I know of a church that prints the names of those with perfect attendance in their newsletter. The church is just one place that awards are given. Our schools do it. Our clubs do it. Families and corporations do it too. It is human nature to give praise to those who succeed or do great things.
This is not necessarily bad. When we recognize others it reminds us of the commitment they have made. But, it can be counterproductive when we are in competition with one another. This is why Jesus told his disciples that it was not his place to assign seats.
Secondly, we depend on familiar, inner circles for our survival. We want and need guarantees. We thrive on security. Wanting the best seat in the house is like positioning ourselves to acquire personal benefits. Whether we want to admit it or not we are determined to look out for ourselves. We are no different than the disciples who were striving for the best seats available.
Third, we lack the faith to serve. To be servants requires courage, sacrifice and lots of love. Jack Canfield and Mark Hansen tell the story of Betty Tisdale. (Chicken Soup for the Soul) She was the wife of a Naval Doctor in Vietnam. She had compassion on the hundreds of orphans in Saigon. She made l4 trips to Saigon by using her life savings. With great determination she managed to airlift orphans from Vietnam during the time it was falling into the hands of the North Vietnamese. It was not a simple task. First, she needed birth certificates. She went to the hospital and created them herself. She managed to make 2l9 eligible certificates that satisfied the government. Next she had to find a place for the children to stay when they arrived at Ft. Benning, Georgia here in the states. Again she met resistance and the Secretary of the Army wouldn’t answer her calls. Determined to carry out her mission, Betty called his mother and pleaded her case. Virtually overnight, her son, the Secretary of the Army, responded.
Now she was challenged as to how to get the children safely out of Vietnam. She was unable to charter a plane. She went to Ambassador Graham Martin and pleaded for some form of transportation. He agreed to help as long as the Vietnamese government cleared their release. Two Air Force transport planes flew the children to the Philippines. Because her husband was dedicated to helping his wife he used $2l,000 of his own money to charter a United Airlines plane to take the children to the states. Within a month all 2l9 children were adapted and placed in homes in the US.
When Jesus advocates a life of self denial, he is not talking about being a martyr, nor is he wanting us all to be Mother Teresa or a Betty Tisdale. He is talking about denying ourselves the demand for power, honor and status and being servants.
Faith is a paradox. Life in the kingdom is not acquired with honors, prizes, achievements, awards and success. It is realized with sacrificial love, unwavering faith and belief that God has a seat reserved just for us. It’s better than the 50 yard line. It is not just good for a single game or a single season. It is good for eternity.
Dr. Keith Wagner, St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, Sidney, Ohio