“The greatest among you must be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled;
but whoever humbles himself will be exalted” (Mt 23:11-12).

Jesus warns us to resist the sin of pride, where we place ourself as the focal point. We seek to be the center of the gravitational pull within our realm of influence. Through our subtle and not so subtle actions, we can embrace this temptation to live a life of look at me, look at me! Desiring to be affirmed is not a bad thing, but that ought not to be our primary motivation for our actions.

The center of our focus ought not to be us, but God. For in choosing our own self determination, free of God’s guidance, is the height of pride. God does not seek to limit us but to inspire us, so that we may actualize the fullness of who he has created us to be. The spirit and council of St Mother Teresa often was not to seek to do great things but to do little things with great love.

Growing up with an introverted and shy nature, I spent much of my youth in my own world. In college, I took a psychology course and thought it would be interesting to work in a hospital. A close friend of mine, Steve, shared with me that his mother was a nurse in a nursing home in our hometown. That summer, after my freshman year finished, I applied for the job as a certified nursing assistant and was hired.

The first resident I assisted was named Margaret. She rolled passed me in her wheelchair and a particular odor followed. The aide I was training with caught my eye and I realized this would be my first solo attempt of service. I redirected and guided her to the toilet, which was in a small closet sized area in between two adjoining bedrooms. It was a particularly hot day, and as I removed Margaret’s depends, I found quite the surprise. For the next fifteen minutes as I washed her midsection and perineal area, I sweat, teared up, and repeatedly fought back the urge to gag, while all the while Margaret sang. Once cleaned up and in a fresh night gown, I helped her into her bed, tucked her in, and then Margaret said, “Give me a kiss lover.”

Others may have run for the door and never looked back. I stayed, and for the next four to five years experienced the wonderful gift of serving the many residents who drew me out of myself and into their worlds. What started out as a job became an extended family.

God presents us with opportunities daily in which we can be present and give of ourselves to others. We just need to be open and resist that urge to put our self first and foremost. I invite you to serve in little ways with great love and I pray that you may encounter your Margaret!

Link for the Readings of the Mass for today:

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/082617.cfm