“There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats.” Albert Schweitzer

“Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat; therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others; but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them. They do all their deeds to be seen by others; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long. They love to have the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have people call them rabbi. But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all students.  And call no one your father on earth, for you have one Father—the one in heaven. Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Messiah.  The greatest among you will be your servant. All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted.” Matthew 23:1-12

“The greatest among you will be your servant.” My cats believe this scripture completely. I am there servant – and they are greater than me. They beckon me day and night to feed them, to pet them, to leave them alone. If you want a pet that will truly keep you in your place, then you need to get a cat.

We have a cat who likes to sit on a table, or up on a lamp stand, or any surface that has some height, and some objects, and she will ceremoniously begin to knock them off onto the floor. It could be a mug – it could be a box of muffins – she does not care. Anything is fair game for her to push off – to push around.

We hear in the text above how Jesus felt about Scribes and the Pharisees: “They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others; but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them.” This is a fairly harsh criticism Jesus is placing upon these religious leaders. After all, if the Scribes and the Pharisees were the teachers of the law, and the most learned, then shouldn’t they know best – and have earned the right to instruct others to do the things they were too busy and too important to do?

Jesus was hated by the scribes and other religious leaders because he was trying to teach a new message – not one of earning the right to be respected, but respecting the rights of all people, and treating all people equally. Jesus goes on to teach “…you (are not) to be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Messiah.” And “The greatest among you will be your servant”, as well as “All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted.”

I have no hope that I will be able to convince my cats to humble themselves. But I know that Jesus teaches me to love my neighbor and serve them – and Martin Luther reminds us that we are to do everything we can to speak of our neighbor in the best light possible. Humility is part of the Christian experience – but it has place in the lives of my cats.

Pastor Dave