There was a time when I was a young mom, and I took cake-decorating classes so I could make wonderful birthday cakes for my family. Fresh from these classes, I volunteered to make a sheet cake for an outreach activity at church. Boy, oh boy, did I decorate that cake! Adorned with a bouquet of roses, lovely lettering, and scalloped piping, I carried it into the Parish Center with great pride. What I encountered there, though, took all the wind out of my sails! The doors were open, and it was obvious where donations were to be left, but there wasn’t a single soul around. In anguish, I stood there, lamenting that I didn’t even have a pen and paper so I could leave a note with my name on it! How would anyone know that this beautiful cake was decorated and donated by…me? I knew that God knew, but I really wanted some other form of recognition or praise, as well. Thank goodness, as in much of my life as a disciple, it didn’t take me long to find scripture passages that addressed these exact feelings, today’s readings included.
In today’s Gospel, James and John are trying to figure out what they need to do to get closer to Jesus so they’d be granted the honor and authority of sitting at his right and left sides. Just like so many aspects of discipleship, Jesus turns their preconceived notions upside down as he says, “Whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant.” Jesus is calling them (and us) to humble service that is rooted in love—not in honor or recognition. His words weren’t just a request from our High Priest and Almighty God, who acts from that position of authority and power, in turn asking for humble followers. No. Whether being born in a stable, washing his disciples’ feet, or allowing himself to be nailed to a cross for our sins, Jesus modeled humility and loving actions, without flash or show, time and time again.
Today, I pray that we can all set aside our egos to serve others without craving public recognition. While we aren’t going to make the kinds of sacrifices that Jesus did, may we, in our small corners of the world, bake the cakes and decorate them as loving gifts, freely given, with no strings attached.