Oh, Father

One of my dearest friends sent me an e-mail the other day, telling me that he referenced one of my blog posts in an homily he performed at his church.  He also sent the homily he wrote.  WOW!  What a powerful homily!  Its message truly resonates with me, too, because, in a sense, I, too, am a servant like the one he speaks of.  Off and on for the past twelve years---almost thirteen---I have earned money, working in the catering field.  As either a cater-waiter, captain or party supervisor.  And, admittedly, I have not performed those tasks with the dignity they deserve.  On more than a few occasions I have shuddered at the thought of running into someone I know while working a big party.  In a nutshell:  I've been ashamed of the fact I do the work.  I'm a college graduate.  I'm intelligent.  My haughty way of thinking told me repeatedly that I shouldn't be "serving" people.  Yes, inherently I know that's the wrong way to see things.  However, what I truly know and how I truly respond to what I know are sometimes two, entirely different things.  How foolish of me.  As my dear friend states in his terrific homily:  "If the all-powerful, all-knowing God would wash my feet…then how can I possibly be diminished by washing the feet of others?  More importantly, how can I possibly refuse to wash the feet of others?  How could I see myself as somehow above that kind of service?  Am I above God?"  ENOUGH SAID!!!!  --- My friend is a Catholic priest who truly represents everything priests are supposed to represent.  Flaws and all.  It makes me feel soooo flattered that he gleaned some inspiration from THIS post.  Father Reding, my dear, dear friend, THANK YOU.  And may humility inhabit me for the rest of my life.