I must confess that there were times when I was young, foolish and selfish and grumpy over the chores that I was required to finish that I grumbled to myself that my parents just had children so that they would have someone to do dishes, wash the car, mow the lawn and take out the trash.  Of course that was a childish and narrow-minded thought.  I couldn’t have been more wrong.  My parents made great sacrifices to give me life and to provide for the things that I would need in growing up.  My life was a gift and grace that was made possible because my parents were willing to sacrifice and serve the needs of their family rather than their own selfish needs and desires.  My parents always put the needs of their family before their own needs.  That is the vocation of parenthood, to offer one’s life in service to one’s family.  Their witness and example allowed me to learn that love is made real and concrete in service.

    Jesus gives us the example of humble service as the way to eternal glory and honor.  True greatness in the kingdom of heaven comes through kenosis, or self-emptying love.  Jesus states in the gospel, “Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all. For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mk 10,44f)  Jesus teaches this message through example at the Last Supper when he removes his outer garments and proceeds to wash the feet of the disciples.  Jesus then instructs them, “If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet.  I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.” (Jn 13,14f)  This teaching by word and example on the supreme value of humble service in love will become a foundational teaching of the early Church.  Paul expresses this teaching in his letter to the Philippians:  “Have among yourselves the same attitude that is also yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped.  Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross.  Because of this, God greatly exalted him…” (Phil 2,5-9)  If we wish to one day share in the eternal glory of Christ Jesus we must first be willing to share in his sacrifice and suffering.

    Our life in Christ is not about making demands but rather it is about meeting demands, the demands of love and service to our neighbor.  It must have been quite exasperating to Jesus when James and John came to him with a demand:  “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” (Mk 10,35)  In the disciples defense, after listening to the predictions that Jesus makes about his passion and death, they decide to check on the value of their investment.  It must have begun to seem to them that discipleship in Christ was all onus and no bonus.  They decided to be proactive.  However, their demand seems to be more about subjugation of the will of God rather than submission to the will of God.  Jesus quietly cautions them, “You do not know what you are asking.  Can you drink the cup that I drink or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” (Mk 10,37)  The disciples are asking simply that their lives will end in honor and glory.  This is precisely what God has destined for all of his children.  He wants them all to share in his eternal glory.  However, to share in the glory of Christ one must first be willing to share in his suffering and humiliation.  Humble service in love prepares the way for a glory that is to be revealed in the final judgment.  To sit at the right or the left of Jesus is not a given, it is something that is prepared through a life lived in humble service in the manner of Jesus.

    Good stewardship is self-emptying service.  As stewards of God’s good gifts we are called to use our gifts in the service of our brothers and sisters.  Our parents decided to use their gifts to serve their children in love.  They quietly emptied themselves in love and service and now it is our time to give of ourselves to others in love.  As good stewards, we trust in our loving Father who will share with us his honor and glory and in Jesus who goes before us to prepare a place for us in heaven according to the measure of love that we have shown in our service to others.