Called Not To Be Served, But To Serve
22nd Sunday after Pentecost –
Proper 24 (Year B)
Mark 10.35-45
St. Gregory’s, Long Beach
When
I was a kid, my father was sent overseas twice. When I was in first grade, he
was sent to Vietnam, and when I was in fifth grade, he was sent to Okinawa.
Whenever he was transferred overseas, my mother, sister, and I would move back
to my parents’ home town in Kansas, where the grandparents, aunts and uncles,
and cousins all lived. This way, we had an extensive support system during my father’s
absence. What I particularly remember and cherish about this time were big
family gatherings for Sunday dinners, as well as for holidays. At such events,
like in many larger families, the adults had their own table in the dining
room, with the nice dishes and silverware. And then there was the “kiddie
table” – card tables in the kitchen or living room, generally set-up with the
everyday dishes and silverware. When I was in first grade, this was fine. It
was fun to hang out with my cousins at the kiddie table. But when I was in the
fifth grade, I really didn’t want to be at the kiddie table. I was among the
older of the cousins and didn’t want to be with the “little kids.” I wanted to
be at the table with the grown-ups. I wanted to feel special. I just knew that
when I finally made it to the grown-up table, it would be glorious!
