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Mary Kaye Ashley
Como Park Lutheran Church
St. Paul, MN
March 9, 2005
Galatians 5:13-14
John 13:1-17
Grace & peace to you from our Lord
Jesus Christ, who gave his very life for you, and in return only wants
your life, in service. Amen.
Who do you think of when you think of serving? Is it
this intimate picture of Jesus washing the feet of his disciples that
comes to mind? Can we picture any of our modern day leaders doing
this; George W. Bush perhaps washing the feet of the cabinet members,
or our governor washing the feet of the Democratic majority leader? I
have a hard time picturing it, but I’ll bet it would change some of
what happens in our state & country. When you’ve had an interaction
of serving someone in this way, it affects the relationship you have
with them. It changes you as well as them. If I serve you, and you
allow me to, we are bonded in a richer way.
Perhaps you have more personal images of service;
watching a big brother protect & teach a littler one, or a nurse who
tenderly cared for your aging parent. These might seem more
achievable role models for us.
A recent day role model for me is Mother Teresa of
Calcutta, who, though deceased, continues to inspire others thru the
work she did with the dying & the poor, both in India, and eventually,
all over the world. She has said, “Our work is to encourage these
Christians and non-Christians to do works of love. And every work of
love, done with a full heart, always brings people closer to God”.
“It is not so difficult to see Christ and touch him in the distressing
disguise of the poor.” “Without him we could not do what we do. We
certainly could not continue doing it for a whole lifetime. One year,
two years, perhaps; but not during a whole life, without thought of
reward, without expectation of anything good except to suffer with him
who loved us so much that he gave his life for us…Jesus explains our
life.”
“I always explain to the sisters, ‘It is Christ you
tend in the poor. It is his wounds you bathe, his sores you clean,
his limbs you bandage. See beyond appearances; hear the words Jesus
pronounced long ago. They are still operative today: What you do to
the least of mine, you do it to me. When you serve the poor, you
serve our Lord Jesus Christ.’”
I’d like to suggest that when we serve anyone who is
truly in need, we serve our Lord. This isn’t serving that creates
dependency, or doing something for someone that it would be better for
them that they do themselves, or doing it for them, because teaching
them how to do it would take more time, patience & energy. I’m
suggesting serving by thoughtfully & lovingly discerning where our
efforts are truly needed, where we are called to be with the gifts God
has given us, and the people we are called to care about.
Lest you think that I don’t know of the level of
serving many of you already do, let me assure you that I’m deeply
aware. I may not have seen you personally within my first week here,
but I know that this building would not be standing, nor so many
ministries thriving here, without enormous service, past and present.
I’m simply asking that we think again about how and why
and who we serve, because I trust that all of us have room to grow in
our service as children of God.
Sometimes I think that when we think about serving, we
let what we cannot do stop us from doing what we are able to. We’re
afraid; afraid of being drawn into doing more, afraid of our
contribution being insignificant, afraid that we won’t do it right, or
that someone will misunderstand our motives, or that our motives
aren’t pure enough. Perhaps it just sounds like so much more work,
one more complication in our already busy lives.
But I’d like to suggest that serving is both a
discipline and a joy, and that it can be how we do things, rather than
just another thing to do. By being disciplined in serving, by acting
in love, we can reap the joys of building relationships & making a
difference. When we treat others with respect, even when we feel
disrespected, we can continue to respect ourselves. When we take time
for someone, even when we are rushed, we convey the valuing of people
that makes relationships a joy. It is a discipline not to share
everything I’d like to when I am in a discussion about something I
care about. It is a joy when others know I care enough about them to
really listen to what they have to say. It is a discipline to react
to anger with patience. It is a joy to be in relationships where
people trust you make a safe place for them to be who they really
are. It is a discipline to guide a young person to do something over
and over again in a good way, even when it’s late, and you are tired,
and crabby, and so are they. It is a joy when they are able to do
things for themselves, and even reach out with those abilities &
skills to serve others. It is a discipline, and sometimes a hassle,
and complicated, to take time in our lives to serve others together as
a family. It is a joy when our children become people who think and
feel & care for others as a matter of habit, not of compulsion.
These are not disciplines that we take on because God
requires something from us in order to deserve the life, the
salvation, the gifts we’ve been given. No, our freedom is given for a
reason, a purpose. Inviting us to serve is one more gift God gives
us, a way to true joy.
One of my favorite stories of how small an act can make
a difference happened 14 years ago, in the coffee hour between
services at Diamond Lake Lutheran in south Minneapolis. The backdrop
to this story is a mom coming to that place with a full heart. One of
her preemie infants had just been taken from the level two unit back
to the NICU at Minneapolis Children’s. He was struggling harder &
harder to breathe, and they weren’t sure why. This fragile 3 ½
pounder was going to have to go thru exploratory surgery the next
morning. His extended family was returning from out of town,
including dad, big brother, and grandma, but this morning, Mom came
worship alone, frightened for this tiny beloved one. When someone
asked how the baby was, she burst into tears, and fled into the church
library. I’m sure many wondered what to do next, but God’s love was
extended that morning in a warm hug & assurances of prayer from the
friends who followed her into the library. If we do what we can, we
may not know what a difference we make. That morning, hope was found
in kind words and a hug. Serving with love always makes a
difference.
Perhaps you will help build a Habitat house, or give
money to help someone in Tanzania earn a high school education.
Perhaps you will let someone go first in a grocery line, and lessen
the stress when they arrive to their family at home. Perhaps your
whole service is letting that sticky preschool grandchild of yours hug
and kiss you, even if you’re not fond of wearing peanut butter for the
whole day – and telling him you love him as he leaves your room.
Perhaps it is in the patient way you listen to a wayward elementary
student, or the call you make to a friend to see how they’re doing
after a loss. Perhaps it is a note of affirmation for someone you
work with, or a generous tip for someone supporting their family on a
job serving you meals. Perhaps it is simply the kindness & integrity
with which you pick up garbage, or service furnaces, or produce
publications. Where you are, you are called to serve.
Mother Teresa believed that you and I and she are in
partnership in this ministry of service that God has given us. She
believed that it mattered how we parent in Falcon Heights, how we
teach in Arden Hills, how we run meetings in Saint Paul. She said it
didn’t matter if we did great things, but it matters that we do small
things with great love. Hear her words, “Faithfulness to the little
things will help us to grow in love. We have all been given a lighted
lamp and it is for us to keep it burning.” “The work that we
Missionaries of Charity are doing is only a means to put our love for
Christ in a loving, in a living action. It is so beautiful that we
complete each other.” She’s talking about us here. It is so
beautiful that we complete each other. What we are doing in the
slums, maybe you cannot do. What you are doing in the level where you
are called – in your family life, in your college life, in your work –
we cannot do. But you and we together are doing something beautiful
for God.”
This lighted lamp you have been given; it is the love
of God for you that burns in your heart. We need to hold that light
out for each other, but we also need to reach out with it, to serve
those who may not know God’s love. What we can do, let us do. Amen.
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