July 25, 2025

When we sit down to contemplative prayer time, Jesus welcomes us, as if to say, “you have come to spend time with us, dear one, sweet one.” God loves us as we are, imperfect as we are, and wants us to take time to commune with God.

Matthew 20:20-28

The mother of the sons of Zebedee asked Jesus for her sons to sit on either side of him in his kingdom. Jesus explained that it doesn’t work that way: “You don’t know what you are asking.” Those who will be by his side in the kingdom of heaven will be there by God’s will. Jesus was not angry with her; he had compassion for her, but he had to explain how things really work in the divine realm.

However, when the disciples heard about this incident, they became indignant at the two brothers for trying to gain positions of authority over the others. Jesus explained that it is the way of the world for rulers and great ones to make their authority felt, “but it shall not be so among you.” Jesus came to serve, not to rule, and so it will be for a true disciple – the goal is to serve, not to rule. Whoever wants to be great will be a servant. Whoever wants to be first, will be lowly. As the I Ching also says, to rule is to serve.

Let us reflect on authoritarianism. Just by its very word and etymology, we know this is contrary to the true followers of Christ, who come to serve. While the worldly way is vertically structured, top down, hierarchical, and ruling by force, the Christian way is horizontally oriented, equal, serving one another in community. Because it flies under the radar, it can even be seen as subversive.  It can be part of the spiritual resistance. 

In God’s kingdom, those who rule by force are the least, the lowest, one might say the losers. Those who serve find favor in God’s eyes. Amen.