Saint for the day:Fidelis of Sigmaringen (1577-1622)

Scripture Readings for today’s Liturgy:

Acts 14:21-27     –     Psalm 145    –     John 13:31 – 35

There’s a common saying in English: “One picture is worth a thousand words” and that might be another way of quoting Jesus’ words from today’s Holy Gospel: “Love one another as I have loved you.” The early Church had many faith-filled and dynamic preachers but the words alone weren’t all there was to their presentations. They also “put their money where their mouth was” and lived the life and walked the walk so much so that people could see that what they were preaching about they also lived.

The starting point of their success as preachers seems to be based on words from St. Thomas Aquinas, “You can’t give what you do not have!” The early apostles and disciples had encountered the real Jesus as they watched Him and often saw the miracles of healing and feeding the crowds that followed him. But it’s most important for us to understand that of all the things they saw him do and accomplish, none were as important as what they saw him do at the Last Supper when He got down on his knees and washed their feet – giving them a new commandment: “to love each other as I have loved you.” This seems to be our “bottom line” where we are shown what it means to be a true follower of Jesus: one who seeks to serve rather than be served. And this is His “new commandment: to love each other as I have loved you!”  But we need to translate that statement and put it in language that we can better understand. That’s why I put this “new commandment” in language that He really meant: “… wash each other’s feet as I have washed yours.”   So, there you have it: more than enough in today’s Liturgy for us to chew on. But be sure to swallow or it won’t do you any good!   Amen!