The Diocese of East Tennessee
Sermons

Oct. 22, 2000
Pentecost XIX
Delivered at Christ Church, South Pittsburg

Sermon: "Reflections on a Life of Service"
The Right Reverend Charles G. vonRosenberg
Third Bishop of East Tennessee

Jesus said, "Whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve."

A term used in that passage seems strange at first glance - that is, "the Son of Man." At one level, that refers to a man, a human being. Yet, as a biblical title, it means more than only that. "Son of Man" indicates a human being sent from God, with precise responsibilities.

Old Testament prophets, like Ezekiel, used the term in describing a particular set of circumstances. And those circumstances involved times that God Himself addressed a certain group of people, the prophets. For instance, "O, man" or "O, son of man", "do that" or "say this on my behalf." In other words, such a command indicated that God was directing the prophet to do some thing, as God's representative. A son of man, therefore, was understood to be someone sent by God to act on God's behalf.

In our Gospel reading, Jesus takes up this title himself. "The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve." Here and elsewhere in the Gospels, "Son of Man" refers specifically to Jesus. The human being sent by God to act on God's behalf is precisely Jesus himself.

But Jesus claims more here than his own identity as the "Son of Man." In the context of this passage, Jesus presents himself as an example, as one to be followed. He is speaking to his disciples, and he is telling them not only of his own mission but also of his expectations for them. "Whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve." Thus, in speaking of himself, Jesus clearly is calling for his disciples - his followers - to follow him in his example.

Do we not realize at some deep level that we, too, came not to be served but to serve? Are we not aware that in serving and in helping others, we touch something inside ourselves that is true and real and that gives purpose to life? Have we not experienced those moments of insight that say clearly to us that this is the reason I am here? And are not those moments clear indications for us that life really is not about getting, but about giving? "The Son of Man" - and disciples of the Son of Man - "came not to be served but to serve."

I have made several trips to the terribly poor island of Haiti. I remember vividly some conversations I have had with fellow travelers on those work trips. Remarkable insights about life and its meaning and purpose emerge from conversations like those, shared in a far-away place, absent from day-to-day stresses and obligations. I remember one conversation in particular. A doctor told me that if he did not have a family back in the United States to support, he would spend much more time in Haiti - doing what he was trained to do - providing medical care to those who clearly need it and avoiding all the bureaucracy that gets in the way of his practice … simply serving. That doctor knew what we all realize at such moments of insight and of truth. It is in serving and in giving that we receive a sense of who we are and of what we are meant to do.

Unfortunately, this truth is not something we often convey to our children and grandchildren, nor is it one that we strive for ourselves. Instead of sharing and claiming the truth about giving and serving, are we not guilty of encouraging and seeking the goals of getting and of being served?

Acting like a servant is out of style these days, in addition to being a rather lowly ambition. I thought about this not long ago as I traveled along a road out in the country. There was a deserted and run-down gas station on the side of the road. A sign over the door to the mechanic's shop still was legible, however. It read, "Service is our business." You can imagine that it was easy for me to be cynical about that message because it was clear that the place itself was out of business. "Service is our business", but no business was there. Indeed, acting like a servant is out of style these days. But the One we call "Lord" calls us precisely to such a life.

In a book entitled Compassion: A Reflection on the Christian Life, there is a section called "The Servant God." We may read there of the joy which comes from a life of service, shared with Jesus Christ:

"We see [such joy] in families where parents and children are attentive to one another's needs and spend time together despite many outside pressures. We see it in those who always have room for a stranger, an extra plate for a visitor, time for someone in need. We see it in the students who work with the elderly, and in the many men and women who offer money, time, and energy for those who are hungry, in prison, sick, or dying. We see it in the sisters who work with the poorest of the poor. Wherever we see real service we also see joy, because in the midst of service a divine presence becomes visible and a gift is offered. Therefore, those who serve as followers of Jesus discover that they are receiving more than they are giving" (p32).

Is that not profoundly true? Do we not know it, in our own lives, in our experiences, in the heart of our faith? That, then, is a life of true joy - a life of service, lived in union with Jesus Christ, who came not to be served but to serve.

Copyright © 2000 The Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee