TO BE HUMBLE...

 

Let us touch the dying, the poor,
the lonely and the unwanted
according to the graces we have received
and let us not be ashamed
or slow to do the humble work.
- Mother Teresa

Today is what many call "Maundy Thursday"...or Holy Thursday...the day of the Last Supper with Jesus and the twelve.

In the gospel of John, Jesus ate for the last time with the twelve...He also washed their feet...imagine that? Someone so magnificent, so Godly...washing your feet, washing my feet? Ohhh...ohhh! He also mentioned feeding His sheep...loving and caring for them. Us, too? Um-hmm, think so!

Something quite significant is mentioned in today's news...in my opinion, that is!

Pope Francis began his first Maundy Thursday with a mass inside of St Peter's Basilica with 1,600 cardinals, bishops, priests and other clergy. The Argentine pontiff called on priests to be good pastors in the true sense of the word, ''smelling like sheep, shepherds in the midst of the flock, and fishers of men''. In a separate mass later in the day, Francis will wash the feet of young inmates at Rome's Casal del Marmo juvenile detention center.

This new Pope seems intent on setting an example for serving...he's actually behaving like Jesus! Don't know about you but I think this is really something. I haven't heard or known of many leaders of his stature behaving so humbly.

While Francis fascinates much of today's world, Mahatma Gandhi fascinated the vast country of India...he was also very humble...and swept His corner of the world off its feet...so to speak. If you haven't read much about him, you should. Quite an extraordinary leader!

BUT...of all the humble figures one can name...there's none to compare with the one named Jesus, the Son of God.

Think of those men having their feet washed (yuck, they wore sandals)...talk about an experience. The times spent with Him must have been awesome, yet full of wondering just what He was talking about; so much in such a short time. Difficult to process all that...at least for me. I'm not too swift at times; I imagine they were much the same.

How could anyone so Godly be such a servant? Love? I think so...He was/is Love personified.

Could I, oh my...could I?

The new Pope...Francis...seems focused on serving and setting an example for millions to see and perhaps follow.

God's son set the standard for humility from the get-go...God expects me to follow suit.

Could I, oh my...can I?

 

"When you come into a situation where people are helpless,

if you can make it a better day for them, that's our goal."

Dave Peterson

 

I have good intentions...poof...too often I fall flat on my face! However...I'm finding situations concerning helpless people are landing in my lap with nowhere else to go! How can I dump them...close my life to their need for compassion and understanding? Well, the answer to that is 'I can't...if I can make it a better day, I must". That's enough.

 

I can do that, can't I?

 

 

Dear Father,

I so want to be a servant, to be humble...
but I find much of the time I am anything but.

My thoughts are too often just about myself;

others can fend for themselves! I do!

I am ashamed of myself for even thinking that...my bad!

Your Son came to minister to others...

not to serve Himself.

How can I be like Him if I fail to follow His example?

I will try putting myself in last place,

where I know I belong.

Forgive me for being proud...

Please help me as I try serving others.

I pray this in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ...Amen

 

From my heart...to yours, Vasca