Greetings …

‘I come not to be served but to serve.’

If you watched the coronation of King Charles III you would have heard these words recently, for they formed part of the vows he made.  They were an echo of what his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, promised when she was crowned in June 1953.  They are well chosen words that speak of something of the leadership that is being offered, and I’m sure that they were heart-felt.  Yet these words have had me reflecting on the fact that it is easy to offer service from a position of privilege.

Before King Charles III or Queen Elizabeth II spoke these words, three gospel accounts recall Jesus speaking words about service and serving.  ‘… 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 as a ransom for many.’ (Matthew 20:26-28)

These words conclude the story where there is discussion about who will sit on the right hand and left hand of Jesus in his kingdom.  Just like the coronation, there was frustration, even anger, about who would sit where – about who was most important.  Jesus stopped this squabbling among his disciples by calling them together and reminding them that if any of them wishes to become great they needed to adopt the posture of a servant.  He not only reminded them that he, the God-one, came as a servant, but Jesus’ life illustrated what servanthood can actually cost.

Living life as a servant can be hard, and while it is easy for those of us in a position of privilege to name we live this way, it can sometimes cost more than we are prepared to give.  Serving Christ, and one another, can take us to places we can’t imagine, bring us into contact with some of the darkest parts of society, bring us into conflict with our friends and neighbours, and have us looking in the faces of those the world seems to have forgotten.  Yet these are the places where God is found.

As we try and take seriously what it means to live as a servant of Christ, may we continue to look to his example, and know that we are always accompanied by the Holy Spirit.

Blessings – Heather (she/her).