The Feet We’re Already Washing
Welcome to Word for the Week, the series in which I:
share my experience of hearing God’s Word in Mass last weekend,
explore what I believe the Lord is calling me to do about that Word, and
ask how this Word might impact your life, as well.
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My word for the week is “they wag their heads.”
It’s the new norm that we didn’t go to Mass last weekend. However, when I reflected on the liturgical readings from Palm Sunday, the phrase “they wag their heads” stood out to me from Psalm 22. At first, I recalled others who criticize or misunderstand me from time to time. Yet, in prayer, the Lord showed me a much different reality.
During my private morning prayer with the Liturgy of the Hours, 3-year-old Serra asked me to come sit close to her. She played with little toys in her crib while I reflected on the readings. Then, I closed my eyes tightly and felt deeply that the Lord was asking me not to wag my head at Him this week.
I realized that I’m tempted to say things like, “Why are you leading us this way, Lord?,” or, “This is so crazy,” or, “I’m probably not doing enough.” Those thoughts are from a place of doubt, rather than of trust in Christ. Yet, Christ wants me to stay with him. To stay with His leadership, His plan, His pacing; to trust Him in it all, and to trust His presence within myself.
In that very moment of enlightenment, Serra’s little voice called out, “Mom! Mom! Open your eyes!” I looked up to see her radiant smile.
“I’m closing my eyes because I’m praying, Ser.” I explained.
“No, keep your eyes open!” She implored.
I smiled and asked, “Would you like me to look at you, instead?” She nodded with a grin and then returned to playing with her toys.
Christ is calling me to respond to Him in a way that is both clear and humbling. “Stay home,” for certain. But instead of scrutinizing the manner in which we stay home, I’m being called to rejoice in the simplicity of family life. Thankfully, David has been echoing the same sentiments. Also this week, I read a beautiful encouragement for young mothers by Halley Netsch, co-founder of Everyday Mamas. She explained, “We can focus on sanctification and prayer through the daily sacrifices we’re already making—and the little feet we’re already washing, daily.”
Whose feet are you washing this week? Maybe you’re literally washing the feet of children or of medical patients, or maybe you’re serving others by paying attention to them even from isolation. Perhaps the questions for all of us become: where do we see Christ right now in the life set before us? And can we accept as beautiful the most simple answers?
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