Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to him with her sons, and kneeling before him, she asked a favor of him. And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Declare that these two sons of mine will sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” But Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.” He said to them, “You will indeed drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left, this is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.”

When the ten heard it, they were angry with the two brothers. But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. It will not be so among you; but whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave; just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.

“Whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant;
whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave.
Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served
but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many." 

During my four years of college, I spent time serving in the Army Reserve as a chaplain assistant. I learned so much through my military service but one of the greatest lessons was the importance of servant leadership. As an enlisted member, I often remember my fellow soldiers commenting about officers who never mingled with the NCOs (Non-Commissioned Officers) or enlisted men and women but simply gave orders and had little regard for those whom they were leading. 

I see this same reality as a lay minister in the Church. In fact, servant leadership is even more important in the Church because as a servant leader/minister one embodies the person of Jesus Christ. As a sacramental Church, this could not be more important. All of us, especially clergy, must be connected (in communion) with those we are serving. This strengthens the community within the Church and provides everyone with a greater sense of value, a sense of belonging, a sense of being seen and known. 

Jesus provides us with a beautiful example of engaging with everyone…his friends, those on the margins, the sick, the teachers, the leaders of the temple. He was constantly interacting with others and socializing through his ministry. He was very intentional about creating community. He only went off by himself to pray, but always came back to be with those he was serving. He understood their lives and included that knowledge in his preaching so they could understand his message of the Kingdom of God. 

Let us all strive to be servant leaders and engage with those we are serving. Let us connect with others and not lead at a distance. Amen.

—Ed DeVenney is the Director of Campus Ministry at Saint Ignatius High School in Cleveland, Ohio. He and his wife, Colleen are very proud of their two sons, Brendan and Daniel, who both work in Catholic education. Ed and Colleen live in northeast Ohio with their dog, Spencer. 

Lord, as we discern the meaning of our call to servant leadership, help us recognize the ways you seek to minister through our lives. Inspired by the knowledge of your abiding presence, may we have the courage to reach out and support one another, to stand firm in what is true, to decrease when others should increase, and to lead with vision and compassion, as faithful followers of Jesus, your Son. We make this prayer to you in his name.

—Author unknown