The associated reading for this reflection can be found in your Every Sacred Sunday Mass journal or online here.
Last year on a trip to Hawaii with friends, we found ourselves in a “fairytale forest,” of sorts. We trotted along the rocky dirt path that followed a peaceful meandering brook, mesmerized by a variety of trees and flowers I never knew existed. I was in a trance from how other-worldly this place was. I didn’t notice one friend had been barefoot the whole time until she noted “Now I know why people laid palms at Jesus’ feet as He entered Jerusalem, this rocky gravel with bare feet is no joke!” Without skipping a beat, another friend offered her shoes, showing an immense act of selflessness.
As I read through the various Scripture verses read at Mass today, I can’t help but be overwhelmed by the constant directive to humble myself and lay everything down for others. We read about it in the Old Testament where Isaiah laments, “I gave my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who plucked my beard”. Jesus directs His disciples to perform these acts when He says, “Rather, let the greatest among you be as the youngest, and the leader as the servant”. Finally, Jesus models it for us Himself by coming to lay down His life for us: “Rather, He emptied Himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, He humbled Himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross”.
I think God gives us many opportunities to die to self and humble ourselves, we just need to keep our eyes open to see it. It could be offering my shoes to someone in need. At work, when I’m blamed for an error that was someone else’s “fault”, I can humbly accept it and offer it up. I can offer to change a baby’s diaper when he needs it. I can choose to go last when I’m in line to fill my plate at our Easter meal.
God, thank You for coming to lay down Your life for us, and showing us examples of how we can do this. This week, please give us opportunities to practice humbling ourselves for others. Open our eyes to see these opportunities, and give us the courage to say yes to embracing them. Amen.
Catherine Huss is a clothing designer in Southern California, and spends her free time playing beach volleyball, singing and writing. Her favorite conversations combine Jesus and the modern experiences of fashion, relationships, and pop culture. Follow her most recent adventure designing swimwear at Siena and Co.