What Was That Golden Rule Again?

Mark 10:35-45

After yesterdays revelation that one feels called into a life's work by the ignition of deep passions to make people's lives better, today's passage comes as almost a shock. The words of Jesus' own followers asking him to "do for us whatever we ask of you" keeps echoing in my head. I mean, really, who is calling whom? To me, these words tell of where our society currently resides. We truly have become a what's-in-it-for-me culture.

Yesterday I met with my tutor and dear friend and we had the most wonderful conversation on the meaning of spirituality and the definition (as far as one is possible) of spirit. We touched on topics ranging from self worth to communal reliance. The understanding that as individuals we are nothing until we become a part of a community, and yet we cannot become part of a community until we find our self was discussed for close to an hour. As we talked more about humanity and individuality and community we were greatly reminded that the one thing which ties it all together is our God.

Somehow, and for whatever reasons, we have become a society that has forgotten community is more important than individualism. Those words spoken by followers of our Christ show it was happening back then just as it is happening now. However, Jesus being Jesus he gives them a reply that says to them, and to us, what the importance is of being called. He says that he is in the world not to "be served, but to serve."

As followers of Jesus, children of God, or just part of a community we need to begin to put others first. It's what we, humanity and caretakers of creation, are being asked to do.