“Privilege, perfidy, pride and promotion”
By Rev. Michael Stonhouse
Meditation – Friday, December 9, 2022
Luke 22:14-30 (Forward, p. 41) CEV p. 1093
It is incredible how quickly and easily things can degenerate, can go downhill, when it comes to us human beings. We see this played out, in exquisite colour and detail, in today’s reading.
First off, we read of that incredible meal, the Last Supper or Holy Communion, or the Eucharist, that Jesus instituted and invited His disciples—and indeed, all of us—as a way of remembering Him and His death and passion. Here, He was instituting a new covenant, one that was sealed with His own precious blood. What an incredible privilege! One would think that the disciples sequestered there in the Upper Room with Him would have been suitably impressed.
But, oh no, one of them had turned traitor, had already decided to betray Jesus and was just on the verge of putting his terrible plan into action. Here we have perfidy, treachery, of the highest order—and yes, right in the midst of this most awesome meal and time together! Is there any limit to human depravity—or to human wilfulness?
No, it would seem not, for almost at the tail end of Jesus’ words about His impending betrayal, we find the disciples arguing among themselves about who among them was to be counted as the greatest. Such pride! You would think that after the holy meal and the not-so-holy announcement of the betrayal, that they would have been sufficiently cowed, but oh no, not one little bit. Even so, Jesus uses this occasion—as He often does—as an opportunity to teach them, to teach them about true greatness. Greatness does not consist of power, the ability to boss or order people around. And neither does it come from prestige and titles and being counted publicly as a great benefactor. No, He tells them, greatness is to be counted in terms of servanthood, in terms of serving others as He has.
And whereas that might come across as a real ‘downer’, Jesus leaves them with one tantalizing, intriguing thought. Those who have stuck with Him through all His troubles will one day rule as kings. Could it be those that imitate His servanthood and serve others as He did? It is intriguing to think of that. And what a promotion this was!
So, in spite of the fact that we humans are flawed, fickle and feeble in so many ways, Jesus still loves us and serves us, and blesses us with incredible gifts and privileges, both now and forever. As He was present in the Eucharist—and continues to be so even now—He is forever blessing us and privileging us in ways that we can scarcely imagine. Thanks be to God. Amen.
Forward notes: “But not so with you; rather the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one at the table? But I am among you as one who serves’” (verses 26-27).
“Every week, clergy and congregations gather around the communion table to follow Jesus’s instructions for a simple meal of bread and wine, one that connects us through time and space with his first disciples.
“Jesus reminds us that he is the host at this supper: he is the one who week after week serves us this precious meal, and we leave the table nourished so that we can serve others. Jesus’s hospitality shows us how to be hospitable to others, to feed and serve them with pleasure and joy.
“My favourite dismissal at the end of Holy Eucharist is, ‘Our worship has ended; our service begins. Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.’ In return, all the people say, ‘Amen’”.
Moving Forward: “How do you follow Jesus’s example to serve others as a gracious host?”