The Importance of Being a Servant
7The Day of Unleavened Bread arrived, when the Passover had to be sacrificed. 8Jesus sent Peter and John with this task: “Go and prepare for us to eat the Passover meal.” 9They said to him, “Where do you want us to prepare it?” 10Jesus replied, “When you go into the city, a man carrying a water jar will meet you. Follow him to the house he enters. 11 Say to the owner of the house, ‘The teacher says to you, “Where is the guestroom where I can eat the Passover meal with my disciples?” ’ 12 He will show you a large upstairs room, already furnished. Make preparations there.” 13They went and found everything just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover meal. (Luke 22:7-13) ~~~ I once met an executive who wanted to be used by God for a great purpose. He was a bit put out when the pastor suggested he begin by working anonymously in the kitchen of the homeless shelter preparing sandwiches on Saturdays. He felt he had far more potential than that—after all, he ran a large company and had leadership gifts. Realizing it was bad form to say "no" to the pastor’s request, he began to prepare meals in the shelter. But an interesting thing happened to him as he served each week: The act of serving began to change him—to diminish the pride that had crept into his heart and to cultivate compassion and humility. He began to have a vision of the needs of homeless people. Over time he invited friends and families to support the mission. He got his employees involved. Years later he was pivotal in developing a new facility that would better meet the needs of the homeless population. But all of this started with a request that he perform a task that, at first glance, he felt was beneath him. Why did Jesus choose Peter and John to prepare the Passover meal—the final meal he would have with his disciples? The request entailed mundane tasks of shopping, making a sacrifice in the Temple, cooking, and setting the table. In their day this was the work of women or of servants. How did Peter and John feel to be doing this while Mary, Martha, and the other disciples remained with Jesus for the day? There is an unnamed disciple in this story. He owned a house large enough to have a second-floor guest room that could accommodate at least thirteen for supper. He was a man of some means; nevertheless, he gladly played the part of a servant and freely gave of what he had, simply because Jesus asked. His guest room was likely the place the disciples hid following the Crucifixion and was perhaps even the place the 120 gathered on the Day of Pentecost, when the Spirit was poured out on the believers. If this is so, the man not only gave freely to the work of Jesus without every being named, but he did so at some personal cost. Only in hindsight would Peter and John see the importance of the meal they prepared. Lord, I offer myself to you. Use me to do whatever is needed, no matter how small. Like the unnamed disciple in the story, help me to serve without recognition. Amen. ~~~ Adapted from 24 Hours That Changed the World: 40 Days of Reflection