March 28: Washing Other's Feet

In today's reading, Christ takes on the ultimate work of service and radical love for his disciples by washing their feet. We are instructed by Christ to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. To do this, we are given vocations, or callings, where we can best serve God.

Saint Therese, Doctor of the Church, declared "In the heart of all things I shall be love - thus I shall be everything". She strove to be the bride of Jesus as soldier and martyr, doing anything and everything she could in service to her love, beginning with the smallest things, in order  to make the greatest impact.

We too can offer actions of love to those God puts in our path. Whether through the vocation of marriage or holy orders, we too should strive to be saints. Christ first loved us and displayed his extraordinary love through service to me, a poor sinner. Shouldn't I then live in the same manner amongst those closest to me as well as strangers?

We must ask ourselves how we can help the vulnerable, the youngest and oldest members of society, the lonely, the poor, and the rejected. We will be judged one day on how we loved, on love alone. Do we show up? Do we say, "Here I am", to those who need us? Do we care for those Christ has entrusted to us?

God, soften my heart. Set me free from the bondage of putting myself first and instead, help me to humbly care for others, just as you have first done for me.

By Alexis Dallara-Marsh