My freshman year of college started out pretty rough. Even though I had spent summers away at camp this was the first time I was truly left to my own devices. At first, I struggled not so much with planning my routine or balancing school work and other commitments, but something else. While I went to church every Sunday and even served as an acolyte, spiritually I felt disconnected but not how you might imagine. I did not immediately make deep connections with classmates. At first—it seemed—making friends was pretty far down on my list of priorities. That was until one foggy day during the winter.
A friend invited me to a small group meeting of people she thought I would like and immediately everything changed. I found people who were awake and alive spiritually. Previously I thought that apart from my roommate and a couple of teammates that mostly all of the people at Sewanee were godless heathens—okay, that is taking it a little too far, but I was concerned that so many did not seem interested in cultivating deeper roots—school and sports and parties can only get one so far. On that fateful, foggy day I was invited to join a men’s small group that would study the Bible and join together in fellowship, accountability, and support. We called ourselves unabashedly “The Sons of Thunder,” which was the nickname Jesus gave to the sons of Zebedee whose names were John and James. While it may sound boastful quite often that nickname fit.
This group of young men boisterously laughed together, passionately studied the life of Christ together (even trying to learn Greek on our own), and boldly attempted to live our lives modeled after Jesus’ own together. However, this was not the only way in which we were like the original sons of thunder, James and John. Like the brothers we heard about in today’s Gospel lesson, we too would try to outdo one another in everything, as each of us yearned to be the greatest—in anything and everything. Some would compete over the right interpretation of Scripture, others tried to be involved in the most Christian activities, and we would even compete in eating contests, billiards, ping pong, or just about anything else. I worked out my spiritual greatness by joining the ranks of the chapel’s sacristan guild (a group of students that were a mix between acolytes and an altar guild). And, not only that I studied so hard yearning to have the honor of valedictorian of my sacristan class.
At first seeking spiritual greatness felt so right, as I was alive inside and excited about these deeper friendships. And yet, eventually I discovered that seeking greatness for myself or outdoing others for earthly accolades leaves one feeling empty. Of course, if I had truly listened to what Jesus said in Matthew 20:25-28 perhaps I could have avoided this vain pursuit in the first place.
Jesus said to his disciples, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. It will not be so among you; but whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave; just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.”
To truly serve another requires us to give up all hope of our own greatness. To become a true servant we cannot bank on something in return for our servitude. To be like Christ we must be willing to lay everything else down to pick up our crosses. Even if we are ostensibly doing good, if it is to outdo someone else then it is worthless.
Eventually James the Apostle, whom we celebrate today in the life of the Church would understand this. He may have sought his own greatness before Jesus’ Passion, Death, and Resurrection but, as Jesus rose from the dead God transformed James’ motivation. James became the first apostle to taste death through martyrdom. One seeking one’s own glory has a very hard time standing up to such persecution if the end is merely outdoing someone else. James laid down his life for God’s glory not his own.
James was transformed by the Resurrection. He no longer sought beating others to the top spot. Instead, he became a servant of the Good News. He shared God’s love in missionary journeys and in laying down his life. We too are called to be servants of God by sharing the Good News of God’s transforming love. May we not seek our own greatness, the best seats, the favored positions, or even to be the greatest servant. Instead, may we become servants of all willing to give up everything to share God’s love with all whom we meet.
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