22-Sep-24 (Mark 9:30-37)

“Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.”, Jesus says in our gospel reading for today from Mark. Most often, we remember that statement from John, as he washed the Disciples feet. Interesting that John thought the foot-washing was so important that it eclipsed the bread and the cup for him. (It's not in his gospel.) Some folks even occasionally replace communion with a foot washing on occasions. But, just as foot-washing shows us how we should not consider ourselves a more important than others, the Table also equalizes us. In Middle-Eastern tradition, any person you broke bread with was your brother and received the full protection of your house.
So think about all your sisters and brothers, in all times and places, that gather around the Lord's Table. They are indeed our sisters and brothers. We should, by Christ's calling us here, be one.
Let us pray.

Prayer:

God, who loves all your children and desires from us the same open love, gather us truly at your table and show us that none of us are more important than any other. Open our eyes and hearts to truly love all people as you do.
Thank you for this bread and cup, symbols that remind us how much Jesus gave to open up a right relationship with you and each other. Thank you for Jesus, our teacher and our Lord. As we take this bread and cup, fill us with the Spirit of Christ, that we too may welcome and serve all your brothers and sisters, here at the table and out in your world.
In the name of Jesus, our Christ, AMEN