MATTHEW 20:25-28

Jesus summoned [his disciples] and said, "Know that --the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and the great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, 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." 

Gospelthink: I want you to serve others, even as a slave. Am I as open to helping others--everyone--the way I should be?

American historians have ranked the 1960's in the southern United States as one of the most painful moments in American history. Black Americans found themselves in a state of desiring freedom from the oppression that had been accepted behavior up to that time in the southern United States. Portraying the difficulties of the times, the movie "The Help" is set in Jackson, Mississippi during the 60's. Skeeter Phelan, an ambitious white American young lady who recently graduated from the University of Mississippi, somehow possessed none of the prejudice of her recently married friends. She came back to Jackson with the thought of writing about the experience of the black maids that were employed by her fellow white women of the town. She soon found out the real feelings of her subjects, and heard first-hand of the horrible prejudice that hurt so many people. In writing her book, her hope was to do away with human slavery by sharing the truth of what was really happening.    

It is clear from the Christian Scriptures that human slavery is wrong. Jesus tells his disciples that anything like "lording it over others" shall not be part of their lives. Paul his Apostle, reflecting on Jesus's words tells the people of Galatia: "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free person, there is not male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:28). But it took centuries for Christians to understand the meaning of Jesus's and Paul's words.

It took centuries because once people have power over others for whatever reason, they do not want to give it up. Jesus's disciples suddenly had power that they never expected to have, and their human natures wanted to exercise that power. Quite naturally, they wanted to exploit their authority. Human nature has been predictable since the day God created us: we always want more than others.

If we want to be truly Christian, we must face the feeling of always wanting more. There is no problem with being the best we can be--such is the directive of every leadership presentation. But there is a problem for those of us who are doing well at being smarter or better or making more money than anyone else. We tend to make ourselves feel superior over those who are not doing as well as we are. In a sense, they become "less" than we are. It is but a short step then to make them "slaves" to what we want. Jesus says that if we learn the lesson of real leadership, we will make ourselves the servants of all.

Our world has progressed far since the days of the 60's in many ways. Perhaps one way that we are slow at understanding, however, is that we are all equal. No one has any right to be "over" another. 

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, your Son was clear about the fact that no one is to ever lord it over others simply because they have fared better in the world. Help us always be aware of the importance of all people. Be with us, we pray.

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GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: We can never make anyone a "slave" to anyone else.
 
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
(session: approximately 68 minutes)
1. What scene during this session of the movie is most striking? Why?
2. In the Gospel, Jesus is speaking of a style of leadership, either that of power or servant. What is your definition of leadership?
3. Jesus is referring to his death when he speaks of a "ransom for many." What is most important about the fact that Jesus died for us?
4. Who are the "great" ones of the world, and why are they considered "great"?
5. If it is clear from the Scriptures that human slavery is wrong, why was it allowed so often among Christian circles?
6 Give some instances of situations in our world in which some people have power over others.
7. Give some instances of situations in our world in which people who are "smarter" "lord it over others."
8. Does making a lot of money automatically make a person a leader? Yes or no and why?
9. Do you think that most people who are in leadership in the Christian churches are good examples of servants? Yes or no and why?
10. Does our world practice the thought that "we are all equal"? Yes or no and why?
11. Text analysis: "You is kind, you is smart, you is important." What is most significant about these words and what Aibeleen is teaching little Mae Mobley Leefolt?
12. Analysis: Why is Skeeter not affected by the prejudice that obviously is part of her friends' lives?
13. Analysis: Why did people believe some of the false facts about black Americans?
14. Scene analysis: Skeeter's mother asked her whether she is lesbian? Why is the topic of homosexuality more easily discussed today?
15. Scene analysis: Hilly fires Minny for using the bathroom, sending her out into a tornado/storm. What is most striking about the scene and why?
16. Scene analysis: Minny's husband is violent with her. Why do women remain in the situations in which their husbands are abusing them?
17. Analysis: the "terrible awful." Why was Minny wrong in doing what she did?
18. Scene analysis: Aibeleen hears the sermon on courage. Do most people really listen to the sermons in Church? Yes or no and why?
19. Scene analysis: Hilly's new black maid asks for a loan, and Hilly refuses. Why did she refuse?
20. Analysis: the personality of Minny. What were her strong and weak points?
21. Analysis: the personality of Celia Foote.  What were her strong and weak points?

©2007 Capuchin Province of Mid-America
Fr. Mike Scully is a member of the Capuchin Province of Mid-America