I am not one who goes to the nail salon for a quick manicure or a pedicure.  I do know folks, men in particular, who use these services regularly.  I have not taken time to wrestle with the mental block that I have, especially regarding someone other than Margaret, touching my feet.  Because of this, I cannot visualize what it would be like to spend all day touching other people’s feet.  I could not imagine myself being either a nail salon technician, in shoe sales, or a podiatrist.  However, there are people who do these jobs and work very hard at them.  They care for the two things that enable us to stand upright and stride.

Now that Margaret’s mom and dad are in assisted living there have been occasions where she has gone over to their apartment and trimmed their toenails.  In my mind, she qualifies as a saint.  My dad is still young enough to do these things for himself but there may come a day when he is not and I wonder if the five of us kids will enter a rotation system to help with such things.  I hope so otherwise my three brothers might default to myself and our only sister! 

I wish I could say that humble service was my natural inclination but I would be lying to you and myself.  It is not my normal stance or first inclination.  However, there are folks who do possess this spiritual gift – it is instinctual.  I read a story about Pope Francis.  In 2023 he went to a youth prison outside of Rome.  While there he took time to wash the feet of several young inmates.  The report claimed that he washed and kissed the feet of ten young men and two young women.  From what little I know of Pope Francis, this does seem to be in-line with his character and view of the papacy.  He is in a position of being constantly served, bowed to, and given great deference.  He also seems to possess the grace and humility to cast off the trappings of his position and take on the form of a humble servant.

That is exactly what Jesus did.  According to the Gospel of John, it was the night before the celebration of the Passover meal and Jesus was reclining at the table with his friends.  Mid-way through the meal he got up, undressed, wrapped a towel around his waist and then one by one, washed the feet of his disciples.  It is assumed that they had already washed their feet as they entered the room for dinner – or at least that was the custom of Jesus’ day.  So this was not about washing their feet again, but about the act of humble service.  Jesus did not think of himself as being above his disciples and he showed that by doing the work of a slave – he washed their feet.  Maybe that is why the story about Pope Francis is so poignant – the person at the pinnacle of the Catholic Church has not become so encumbered by the position that he is immune to the needs of others, especially youth who are in prison. 

The lesson that I believe we all need to learn, especially for those of us who live in privileged society is this – the gospel is not just an idea we agree on, it is to be lived.  Or let me put it this way – when we take on Jesus’ model of humble servant then there is truly no one to far down the social ladder for us to serve.  Jesus did it and I think he is telling all of his disciples to “do this.”  Take off your privileged robes and serve my “brothers and sisters.”

I invite you to take time and read each of the scriptures above followed by reflection on the questions below.  Contemplate the call to follow Jesus’ example by becoming a humble servant of others, even the very least in our society.    Lastly, I pray that God bless the reading of God’s Word and the meditations of your heart.

Questions to Consider this week:

• Monday:  What particular tasks are you unwilling to do?  Why?
• Tuesday:  What tasks do you pay others to do for you?
• Wednesday:  Who are you willing to serve and who would you prefer to avoid?
• Thursday:  Where would you be willing to go and serve and where do you refuse to go?
• Friday:  What would you categorize as humble acts of service?
• Saturday:  What ministry at your church could you engage in and offer your humble service? 

Actions for the Week:

• Head:  Identify if you are resistant to heeding Jesus’ call to humble service.
• Heart:  Contemplate your attitude and heart for serving others, especially the poor.
• Hand:  Engage in a ministry of humble service for the poor and marginalized.