Matthew 23: 1-12
Jack was, for lack of a better term, the Jack of all trades at my church growing up. He worked a blue-collar job, and on Sunday was always around -- fixing things, carrying the cross in the procession, and generally helping to keep the church running. He was tall and wiry, with a wild head of brown hair. On Christmas, he would always put on the loudest, most neon green tie I've ever seen. He even wore an elf hat to match.
While some may have seen Jack's rough exterior and kept walking, they were missing something important -- a lesson in service. I learned immensely from Jack's presence and example -- kind, decent, pitching in, doing the work that needed to be done. Always with a smile, always humble, always looking to help. The loudest thing about him was the Christmas tie, and even he only did that once a year.
For all the pomp and circumstance and expensive vestments and loud voices booming over the sound system of my childhood church, it's Jack that I remember. And his example can offer a reminder of what Matthew calls us to be -- a servant to others, with humble hearts.
Reflection by Bobby McMahon
Thank you for these thoughts, Bobby. I've been thinking a lot this Lent about having a servant's heart. All of us have so much we can give humbly.
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