THE LAST SHALL BE FIRST

 "THE LAST SHALL BE FIRST"

[Who hasn't heard that one?] 

When I was in grammar school with the Good Sisters, I remember how when it was time to line up single file to go somewhere or other, there'd be a tussle to see who would go first. 

Actually, even at my very select Jesuit preparatory high school we had the same thing going on. We attended Mass daily in the chapel. The one who sat in the first row in the seat place right next to the aisle was the one who got to got get into the lunch room first. I even saw a skirmish with one rather intractable lad. They solved the problem by mixing up which row in the chapel would go to lunch first after the Mass.

But, back in grade school I remember indelibly once when Sister gave us the lesson, "THE LAST SHALL BE FIRST". And, just like a bunch of idiotic nincompoops — the real lesson going completely past us — we'd fight for who would be the last. Really! I remembering so well.

So what is the real lesson there? Aside from the observable fact that the Nuns were dealing with a bunch of stupid heads. 

Well Jesus spoke on the subject. And the Buddhists also give us a clear answer. There's such a thing as the Bodhisattva Vows. To live to see all sentient beings enlightened. In Christian terms, you could say that a Bodhisattva is the one who intends to be the very last one on the bus. In other words, "I'm not going to heaven until everyone else goes there before me. That I may be a help."

Like so many of such sayings, it's too easy just to nod in assent. It's worth contemplating and considering putting it into practice.