Mark 9:35 Jesus sat down,
called the twelve, and said to them, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of
all and servant of all.”
Wednesday night dinner is always fun for me. First and foremost, I love to eat - as evidenced by my ever growing waistline. But I really enjoy the fellowship time to sit and talk with the students, members and visitors. Food seems to be disarming and wall breaking for people that can sit and eat together. Often I see people, who I know probably have never met - nor might they ever were it not for Wednesday dinner at Lutheran Church of the Redeemer.
Last night was no different. Except that it was. It's always a good experience, great even, but last night was incredible - I saw the Holy Spirit move through the servant heart of a fellow dinner participant.
I sat with a man who was clearly hurting, a little lost, shivering, broken and quiet. He told me his name and as I introduced myself he replied, "I know who you are. You played music this morning in the food ministry." He proceeded to tell me that he came in an addict, was sleeping on our concrete steps at night, and that when he came in to eat, the music made him weep. He said it made him feel alive. He insisted that the band and communion assistants were actually glowing to him, and that it made him feel the presence of God. I was humbled, and honestly a bit blown away by what he told me. I always wonder if it does any good, waking up early, playing and praying through a bunch of songs and then offering communion to many people who shake their heads and refuse it. But apparently God was up to way more than I could know - imagine that...
But here's the part of the story I want to highlight. He mentioned that he was an alcoholic and addict and wanted to know how he could get help. I know we have AA meetings here on Mondays, but I couldn't remember when, so I asked Vicar Melody and a parishioner, and they told us what time. Then, the parishioner - who I'll call Burt - asked the man if he was ready to go to a meeting. The man replied yes. Burt looked up meeting times and found a meeting that was happening last night and told the man there was one available right then. And get this - Burt said, "Do you want to go? I'll take you right now." Then he actually put down his plate of dinner, walked out the back door with the man and took him to his first AA meeting. With tears in my eyes, I saw the Gospel. Burt and the man met up again this morning and the man entered detox today. With tears in my eyes, I type the Gospel to you.
That, brothers and sisters, is what Jesus was talking about in the Scriptures. Burt dropped his plate, his plans and his desires to serve a man he had only met for less than two minutes. A man who needed help got help. A man who was broken was shown grace, love and mercy. A man who was forgotten, was remembered.
What does life look like when we put ourselves second, third or even last.? It's easy to see what life looks like when we put ourselves first. Take a look at our world, our city and our culture. It's a rough mirror image for us to see, but that what the Gospel shows us. It helps us to see how we are called to live in response to the Good News that Jesus came, suffered, died and rose for all of creation. Seeing that clearly drives a stake in the heart of comfortable. It breaks apart walls of apathy. It gives life, love, grace and mercy where there is only darkness. This brothers and sisters, is the gospel shown to us from the cross - the punishment of the covenant that we broke, is taken on for us. Through Christ putting us first, and himself last, we are reconciled, redeemed, saved.
The challenge this week: seek 3 moments where you can put others first - then watch the Holy Spirit at work, and while you're at it, invite 5 people to church this weekend, meet them before worship and walk in with them. Be the change, be the Gospel for someone today.
Wednesday night dinner is always fun for me. First and foremost, I love to eat - as evidenced by my ever growing waistline. But I really enjoy the fellowship time to sit and talk with the students, members and visitors. Food seems to be disarming and wall breaking for people that can sit and eat together. Often I see people, who I know probably have never met - nor might they ever were it not for Wednesday dinner at Lutheran Church of the Redeemer.
Last night was no different. Except that it was. It's always a good experience, great even, but last night was incredible - I saw the Holy Spirit move through the servant heart of a fellow dinner participant.
I sat with a man who was clearly hurting, a little lost, shivering, broken and quiet. He told me his name and as I introduced myself he replied, "I know who you are. You played music this morning in the food ministry." He proceeded to tell me that he came in an addict, was sleeping on our concrete steps at night, and that when he came in to eat, the music made him weep. He said it made him feel alive. He insisted that the band and communion assistants were actually glowing to him, and that it made him feel the presence of God. I was humbled, and honestly a bit blown away by what he told me. I always wonder if it does any good, waking up early, playing and praying through a bunch of songs and then offering communion to many people who shake their heads and refuse it. But apparently God was up to way more than I could know - imagine that...
But here's the part of the story I want to highlight. He mentioned that he was an alcoholic and addict and wanted to know how he could get help. I know we have AA meetings here on Mondays, but I couldn't remember when, so I asked Vicar Melody and a parishioner, and they told us what time. Then, the parishioner - who I'll call Burt - asked the man if he was ready to go to a meeting. The man replied yes. Burt looked up meeting times and found a meeting that was happening last night and told the man there was one available right then. And get this - Burt said, "Do you want to go? I'll take you right now." Then he actually put down his plate of dinner, walked out the back door with the man and took him to his first AA meeting. With tears in my eyes, I saw the Gospel. Burt and the man met up again this morning and the man entered detox today. With tears in my eyes, I type the Gospel to you.
That, brothers and sisters, is what Jesus was talking about in the Scriptures. Burt dropped his plate, his plans and his desires to serve a man he had only met for less than two minutes. A man who needed help got help. A man who was broken was shown grace, love and mercy. A man who was forgotten, was remembered.
What does life look like when we put ourselves second, third or even last.? It's easy to see what life looks like when we put ourselves first. Take a look at our world, our city and our culture. It's a rough mirror image for us to see, but that what the Gospel shows us. It helps us to see how we are called to live in response to the Good News that Jesus came, suffered, died and rose for all of creation. Seeing that clearly drives a stake in the heart of comfortable. It breaks apart walls of apathy. It gives life, love, grace and mercy where there is only darkness. This brothers and sisters, is the gospel shown to us from the cross - the punishment of the covenant that we broke, is taken on for us. Through Christ putting us first, and himself last, we are reconciled, redeemed, saved.
The challenge this week: seek 3 moments where you can put others first - then watch the Holy Spirit at work, and while you're at it, invite 5 people to church this weekend, meet them before worship and walk in with them. Be the change, be the Gospel for someone today.
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