Daily Reflection for Monday, March 2, 2020
Peace and Blessings, Friends and Parishioners,
We encourage you to reflect on Monday’s readings at this link:
www.usccb.org/bible/readings/030220.cfm
If you prefer to use your own Bible, the readings are:
First Reading: Leviticus: 19:1-2, 11-18
Responsorial: Psalm 19:8-10, 15
Gospel: Matthew 25:31-46
Our reflection on Monday’s readings:
“Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it for me.” Matthew 25:40
Recently I attended a parish retreat. The presenters frequently reminded us that retreats are “mountaintop experiences,” and it is challenging to bring the “high” of a retreat to our daily lives.
It occurred to me while reading today’s gospel that I often treat service as a “mountaintop experience.” I seek and recall times I’ve made a larger-than-usual effort to help others. There is nothing wrong (and a lot right) with spending time, treasure, and talent on people who are less fortunate than me. But in placing a higher value on these “big” acts, I neglect countless “ordinary” opportunities to serve.
Not only random acts of kindness toward strangers but daily moments when my family wants to share something difficult or exciting that happened to them. Often, I tune out their stories and forget that in being present to them, I make them feel loved and known, and consider them important and worthy of my time. The “least of these” in my life are sometimes the ones I hold most dear.
Finally, I am called to recognize the many ways others serve me. It is incredibly difficult to feel vulnerable and in need of being served. At Christmas last year, my daughter’s best friend’s family gave her a winter coat. I was embarrassed. “Do they think we can’t afford a new coat? There’s nothing wrong with the coats she’s been wearing!” She had three fine hand-me-downs. One was ill-fitting, one was pretty grubby, and the other wasn’t her style.
Our friends were observant enough to notice this, and in one simple act were able to make my daughter (and me) feel loved, known, and important. In smaller, ordinary ways, people in my life check-in on me and wish me well. Each time a co-worker or friend asks, “How are you today?” I can see in their eyes the eyes of Christ letting me know that He is checking in on me, too.
As we enter this first week of Lent, I ask God to open me to His presence and the infinite ways I can serve and be served. In serving “the least of these,” and making myself vulnerable enough to be served, I trust I will be pulled deeper into His loving embrace.
May God’s Peace Be With You,
Trina Wurst