Then they came to Capernaum; and when Jesus was in the house he asked them, "What were you arguing about on the way?" But they were silent, for on the way they argued with one another about who was the greatest. He sat down with the twelve and said to them, "Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all."
The Episcopal Church commemorates two interesting political figures within the Anglican tradition and the British Parliament. William Wilberforce and Lord Ashley Cooper were well educated men. William Wilberforce served in the House of Commons serving until 1784 and Lord Ashley Cooper was a member of Parliament at the age of 25. Both of these men took great interest in the slave trades as well as the liberation of children from labor practices within English society. They spoke up about the injustices that their own societies had heaped upon people and were part of the conversation towards liberation.
One of the reasons that racism, heterosexism, sexism and other biases exist in our time is because too many people are trying to avoid the conversation. There are many forces at work both in society and the Church to keep the conversations that could lead to the eradication of all the biases from taking place. The conservative Christian tradition wants to keep the conversation about heterosexism that leads to homophobia from taking place, because then the capitalism that has been fueling the cruelty of negatively stereotyping LGBTQ people will be exposed, and the evil of the billion dollar profits of major evangelistic corporations will be exposed. The blatant racism of the Tea Party movement and even within the Republican Party and other factions of society is to safeguard the special interest groups that are funding their political agendas. The reason why an honest discussion about sexism that would lead to the further liberation of women in our society cannot happen is because if it does, then corporations will no longer be able to defend that women can be paid lower salaries than their male counterparts. To admit that the biases exist means a gain for many and a financial loss for others. It means "move over majority, it is time to let a minority have some room." No one who is among the privileged wants to have a conversation that will lead to their loosing what their privileges gain for them.
Apparently Jesus' disciples were having a conversation very similar to that in today's Gospel. They were so concerned about who would be greatest or least, that they forgot what being followers of Jesus Christ would mean. Their call to serve God in Jesus, means willing to put those considered "least" among us as first. For those of us who are part of a consumerist society where we must work hardest to gain first place to gain all kinds of awards and first place salaries and the like, being told we have to serve the least to be the greatest doesn't jive well. For those Evangelists that are on top of the food chain of religion and politics, who make those millions of dollars in book sales and public speeches, to come to a place where allowing LGBTQ to gain our rightful place in society, in terms of marriage equality, being able to hold on to our jobs, serve openly in the military and allow our partners from other countries to be allowed immigration into the USA, would mean a loss that is too much to bear. And for those of us who are LGBTQ who must keep hammering home the message of equal justice to politicians and religious leaders that are just against us, means placing ourselves at the service of those who certainly do not have our best interests at their hearts. To educate, talk to and encourage conversation among people about the issue of the full inclusion of LGBTQ people, means to be willing to upset a few people and face the difficulties that will come with it.
To serve as a follower of Jesus Christ, means being willing to be knocked down a notch to lift up others who need lifting up. We must be willing to use our voices, pens, email accounts and facebook pages to be voices for those who do not have a voice, but want to speak and be heard. Those hundreds of people with fishing careers in the Gulf of Mexico who have lost their jobs because of the oil spill, those are people who need caring and compassionate voices to speak up on their behalf. There are so many people in the Gulf due to Hurricane Katrina and now the oil spill who are loosing their faith in God and government to help them. They need us to pray for them and our willingness to sign petitions and write emails to Congress on their behalf. They may need help to gain medical assistance, food and even money where possible. That is willing to serve others even if it means we become least among others. So is calling upon our Congress and President, and anyone else who will listen that we need a clean energy solution that will not keep giving preference to big oil companies who fund the travels of campaigning politicians.
Just as William Wilberforce and Lord Ashley Cooper were voices for the social injustices of their time, so must we speak up about the social injustices of our own times. As Jesus told his followers to become least so as to serve, so we must also be willing. There is way too much discrimination, violence, oppression and evil a foot to ignore. The Gospel needs to come a live through Christians willing to become the voice and servants of those who need us to act and speak up for them.
O God, the protector of all who trust in you, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy: Increase and multiply upon us your mercy; that, with you as our ruler and guide, we may so pass through things temporal, that we lose not the things eternal; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Proper 12, Book of Common Prayer, Page 238).
Just and eternal God, we give you thanks for the stalwart faith and persistence of your servants William Wilberforce and Anthony Ashley-Cooper, who, undeterred by opposition and failure, held fast to a vision of justice in which no child of yours might suffer in enforced servitude and misery. Grant that we, drawn by that same Gospel vision, may persevere in serving the common good and caring for those who have been cast down, that they may be raised up through Jesus Christ; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Collect for William Wilberforce and Anthony Ashley-Cooper, Holy Women, Holy Men, Celebrating the Saints, Page 495).
Look with pity, O heavenly Father, upon the people in this land who live with injustice, terror, disease, and death as their constant companions. Have mercy upon us. Help us to eliminate our cruelty to these our neighbors. Strengthen those who spend their lives establishing equal protection of the law and equal opportunities for all. And grant that every one of us may enjoy a fair portion of the riches of this land; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for the Oppressed, Book of Common Prayer, Page 826).
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