In today’s culture it seems that the word “servanthood” takes on a bad connotation. It seems that some people want to take advantage of others and even mean to do them harm.
The world’s history is full of horrible stories of slavery. The conquering army would kill some people and take others as slaves. Some people think it is OK to enslave others. Our country fought a Civil War to keep the Union together and to abolish slavery of Black people. Religion has not been spared with some thinking that their religion was right and the others were wrong. And so they enslaved and killed people.
I remember hearing about my great-grandmother who was an indentured servant for seven years to a doctor’s family in order to have her passage paid from Ireland to America. And now we have the terrible scourge of millions of women and children being part of sex trafficking.
In contrast Jesus teaches us that servanthood is part of our Christian journey. He came as a servant and helped people on the margins to know God’s love. Psalm 116:1, 10-17 had the psalmist crying out to God in his distress. Verse five says, “The Lord is gracious and righteous, our God is full of compassion.” Verses 15 and 16 speak about servanthood: “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His faithful servants. Truly I am your servant Lord; I serve you just as my mother did; you have freed me from my chains.”
Don’t we all want to be free of the sins, addictions and chains that bind us?
1 Corinthians 11:23-26 is the story of the Last Supper. At the meal Jesus took bread, gave thanks and said, “This is my body, do this in remembrance of Me.” Then He took the cup of wine and said, “This cup is the New Covenant in my blood, do this, when’re you drink it in remembrance of me.”
And back to servanthood. John 13:1-17 talks about washing His Disciples’ feet at the Last Supper. Imagine ... Jesus knew that Judas Iscariot would betray Him and yet He washed his feet. Think back to those times. Walking barefoot or in sandals. Peoples’ feet would be filthy.
Peter did not want Jesus to wash his feet and Jesus said to him, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” Peter protested and Jesus said, “unless I wash you, you have no part of Me.” Peter relented. Jesus then asked the Disciples if they understood what He had done. He said, since I have washed your feet you should wash each other’s feet.
Sounds like servanthood to me. What do you think? AMEN!
Ed Murphy is a Supply Priest who fills in at various parishes around the Finger Lakes. His “Faith Perspectives” column is published monthly on the Finger Lakes Times Religion page. Contact him at emurphy91452@gmail.com.
FAITH PERSPECTIVES: Servanthood is part of our journey
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19.04.2024
In today’s culture it seems that the word “servanthood” takes on a bad connotation. It seems that some people want to take advantage of others and even mean to do them harm.
The world’s history is full of horrible stories of slavery. The conquering army would kill some people and take others as slaves. Some people think it is OK to enslave others. Our country fought a Civil War to keep the Union together and to abolish slavery of Black people. Religion has not been spared with some thinking that their religion was right and the others were wrong. And so they enslaved and killed people.
I remember hearing about my great-grandmother who was an indentured servant for seven........
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