A dispute also arose among them as to which one of them was to be regarded as the greatest. But he said to them, ‘The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you; rather the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.
‘You are those who have stood by me in my trials; and I confer on you, just as my Father has conferred on me, a kingdom, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
- Luke 22:24-30
“For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves?”
Recently we were in a nice little restaurant in Bath, Maine having our final meal with guests who had visited us on MacMahan Island. We had been to the place many times before and enjoyed excellent meals and service. But not this time. Though our waitress tried her best, they were out of several things we wanted, and we waited nearly an hour for our food. Some at our table were taking it in stride - after all in the post-pandemic reality it is difficult to find good help. And a couple of us were making matters worse by grousing about the slow service. When we inquired about the delay, we learned that one of their cooks had walked off the job, leaving the kitchen in chaos. Our food arrived - delicious - and we enjoyed our meal. And yes, we tipped the waitress, knowing it wasn’t her fault.
For some reason, this experience made me think about the Church - not just Trinity Church, but the plight of churches everywhere. We all want to be fed. Often, there are a faithful few who are willing to take the risk to serve. I say risk, because sometimes serving the church means standing by in the time of trial. And as in any human institution, there are many situations where there doesn’t seem to be enough - time, help, money, etc. But if we focus on what isn’t there, we miss the invitation Jesus offers us to take part in the heavenly banquet that is happening now.
As we move toward coming home to our beloved church space, I invite you to consider what glimpse of heaven you might find in serving? You might enjoy helping with flowers, setting the altar table, welcoming guests, reading, singing, writing reflections, serving at the Eucharist, praying for our ministries, acquiring and managing our resources, and sharing in our community of faith deeply and regularly. No task is insignificant when it’s offered with a loving heart.
As we walked around Bath’s main street after our lunch, we discovered it was their Annual “Kindness” Day celebration. Kindness takes practice, compassion and selflessness. And the reward is how good we feel when we can connect to other people with a smile, a small courtesy or some simple compassion. When we approach the altar to be fed, let us give thanks for all of the disciples who have contributed to the feast. And know that as you reach out to receive Christ, your church is longing for you to find your place in heaven.
Musical Reflection - Father Let Your Kingdom Come - The Porter's Gate
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