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Jesus sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, 

“Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” 

- Mark 9:35

Getting a head start halfway down the driveway (and on his bike, with me on foot) Isaac called out, “Race you to the end of the driveway Dad!”  Never one to back down from a challenge, I raced after him, falling well short of a first-place finish.

After my third humiliating defeat in this fashion, I finally wised up.  I was ready for him when he called out again, “Race you!”  This time I didn’t let him get ahead.  I bounded across the finish line, victorious at last!

Isaac wheeled around on his bike and ironically declared in a sour tone, “Not fair!”  I may have been the winner of that race, but in hindsight, maybe coming in last would have been better. 

That’s kind of the job a dad isn’t it?  To put your kids first, even if it means putting yourself last. 

In our Gospel this week, I think Jesus would agree.

The disciples are bickering about something … kind of silly.  Who is the greatest among them?  If that sounds kind of childish to you, it might be helpful to remember that the disciples were, in all likelihood, teenagers.  Perhaps we can allow them a silly debate. 

But Jesus turns it into a teaching lesson.  He tells them “Whoever wants to be first, must be last of all and servant of all.” Those are words we should all take to heart, especially in a culture that is obsessed with being first. 

If you’re honest with yourself, I’d bet you’ve felt that in your own life too. We all have.  We are all prone to enter into debates about “Who is the greatest?”  You might want to put yourself first in the workplace, first in income or first in class. 

Jesus flips it all upside down however, letting his disciples know that God’s kingdom doesn’t operate in the ways of the world.  If you want to be first, put yourself in a place of servanthood – make yourself least of all.