Our Declaration Of Dependence

During a press interview, the conductor of a great symphony orchestra was asked to name the instrument he thought was the most difficult to play. After thinking the question over, he replied, “Second fiddle. I can get plenty of first violinists. But to find one who can play second fiddle with enthusiasm is often a problem. And if we have no second fiddles, there is no harmony.”

In today’s Gospel Lesson, Jesus speaks well of second fiddles. “Behold,” he says, “some who are last will be first” (Lk.13:30).

We think of Jesus Christ as a strong person. We think of His mother Mary as a strong person. We think of Peter and Andrew and James and John as strong persons. And the Apostle Paul! Who has the strength to endure what Paul endured for the Cause of Christ? Nevertheless, we hear Jesus saying such things as “The last will be first and first will be last,” and “Blessed are the meek, for they…