Thoughts for the Day

Jesus called (the disciples) to him and said, ‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. It will not be so among you; 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 a ransom for many.’

(Church in Wales Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Yesterday we were called to be students, and today we are called to be servants or possible even slaves. We should remember that Jesus himself washed the feet of his disciples, a job that would only have been done by the lowliest person in the household, often a slave. No wonder Peter tried to stop Jesus carrying out this humble job.

A good servant obeys his or her master, using all the gifts that God has given them to fulfil their wishes. All of us who have worked for someone else know that we need to do our job to the best of our ability. As Christians this is even more important. Our master, Jesus, has given us His orders - love God, and love all people as we love ourselves; and take His Gospel of the Good News to the world!

Slaves were often branded with their master's insignia, and as Christians we were 'branded' at our Baptism with the sign of the cross on our forehead. This thought should remind us that as servants of the living God we may not have an easy life if we are to fulfil our orders and be welcomed at the end of our life with the words "Well done, good and trustworthy slave!" (Matthew 25.23). But the rewards are well worth the trying!

Lord Jesus,
our Master and our Lord,
may we learn to serve You as You deserve
throughout our life,
knowing that we may be called
to difficult work
that will challenge us,
but that the rewards will be immense,
and that Your love will support us.
Amen.