Recently on ABC news, there was the story of Harry Simmons, a 6-year-old boy, who was happily donating his clothes and toys to help other children in need. The story really focused on his mother who wanted him to develop what she called a ‘culture of service’. She told the reporter that she believes ‘service is the way we pay for living in this world’. The commentator then reported how volunteerism in the U.S. has declined since the pandemic, but that 16- & 17-year-olds now have the highest volunteer rate of all age groups. This reporter ended by saying that the smallest actions, like little Harry Simmons giving, do make a difference.
In our Gospel, Jesus calls his followers to an attitude of humble, loving service to others. “The greatest among you must be your servant.” He says this after saying some strong words about the Scribes and Pharisees. He wasn’t faulting them for their zeal for the things of God, but rather for focusing too much on small matters of observance and not enough on God and his command to love and serve. Jesus wants his followers to serve by giving of themselves generously, being available to others when the need arises, quietly living the will of God, yet thinking nothing of it.
As Christians today, we know that and try to live it. Pope Francis clearly states this same message in his encyclical “Fratelli Tutti”. If you have not read his letter, I’d invite you to use this as your Lenten reading. In 8 short chapters, Pope Francis urges us as sisters and brothers in our contemporary society to care for our neighbor and build a global society based on justice for the common good. He says: “Now there are only two kinds of people: those who care for someone who is hurting and those who pass by; those who bend down to help and those who look the other way and hurry off.”
As we reflect this Lent on our spiritual lives, we hear Jesus addressing us with the same question Pope Francis poignantly asks: “Will we bend down to touch and heal the wounds of others? Will we bend down and help another to get up?”
As we continue our Lenten pilgrimage, we can ponder this: “How am I answering Jesus’ call to loving, humble service, especially to the poor, the hungry, and the needy?”
