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Morning Devotion for the Season after Pentecost
September 3, 2025
Reading: Luke 22:24-27
A dispute also arose among them as to which one of them was to be regarded as the greatest. But he said to them, ‘The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you; rather the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.
Meditation: Jo Ann B. Jones
In his collection of short stories in Table for Two, Amor Towles writes a short story in which he introduces the reader to two businessmen stranded in New York during a snow storm and forced to stay in a hotel and rearrange their travel plans for the next day. Jerry plans to have a drink and dinner in the Hyatt restaurant, when he encounters Smitty. The restaurant does not look particularly appealing to Jerry, so he decides to have dinner in the bar and Smitty agrees to join him there. The two spend more hours than planned and both drink more than anticipated, particularly Smitty. In light of the need to check out of the hotel as early as possible in order to make their flights, Jerry leaves the bar, while Smitty is still drinking. By mistake Jerry picks up the wrong phone. When Jerry returns to his room, to his surprise he receives a phone call from Smitty’s wife, during which he learns that Smitty is an alcoholic. Jennifer makes Jerry promise to get Smitty out of the bar and stay with him on the next day until he makes his plane. It was no easy task for Jerry to remove Smitty from the bar, take him to this room, arouse him the next morning so that he can check out in time and return to the airport. In the end, Jerry misses his flight in order to assure that Smitty is safely on his plane home, where his wife will meet him at the airport. Jerry’s final thoughts are captivating. “As I stood there in the customer service line thinking of all that had just transpired, what I found myself hoping, what I found myself praying for, was that despite all my flaws, when the time came, as it surely would, my wife would be willing to fight for me as hard as Jennifer had found for her husband.”
The greatest is the one who serves. If one should search for the definition of serve, one would find that each definition calls for the actor, the one who serves to go beyond himself. One is immediately called upon to act for the benefit of another, This direction away from the self may be overlooked and not fully appreciated. One never knows quite what one will be called upon to do when rendering service and one does not immediately understand that it is a call to selflessness. Jennifer extracts from Jerry an extraordinary promise that demands more of Jerry that he realizes when he makes that promise. All his efforts must be directed toward Smitty’s wellbeing and Jennifer extracts this promise out of her love for her husband, Smitty.
Jerry’s story is a cautionary tale about service. It raises for us that we must be aware that in truly giving service, we must grapple with our own needs/wants and those of another. It is dangerous to press upon a person the duty of getting beyond earthly love when that one’s real difficulty lies in getting so far. And it is no doubt easy enough to love one’s fellow human being less and to imagine that this is happening because we are learning to love God more, when the real reason may be otherwise. It is undeniable that we are very dependent upon God’s help if we truly wish to serve another faithfully and truthfully.
A Prayer For All Who Do Good in the World
Almighty God, look with favor upon those whose lives add to the world’s good, who are humble in self-estimate, averse to self-seeking, ready for self-sacrifice, who are upright and trustworthy, kindly and generous, discerning and compassionate: who do not despise others nor take advantage of them and contrive against them nor condemn them with arrogance, that communicate blessing. Reward them, O God, for their goodness, let it evoke gratitude and induce imitation; let it not be obscured or nullified by their intermittent failures, and grant in them, thy faithful servants, the benediction of thy sure support; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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