**This reflection was reposted from Diocesan Archives.**
On May 13th, Nathalie and I celebrate the anniversary of when we got engaged, on the Feast of Fatima. For those who have followed our story, you know we got married on October 13th, the other Feast of Our Lady of Fatima.
One of the reasons we stayed so close to Mary during these important moments is because of her example of service. When we got married we chose to wash each other’s feet instead of doing the typical garter and bouquet. We did this because we wanted to show the world that our marriage would be one of service, not only to each other but to the world.
It’s always great to be hit with this reading again where Jesus washes the disciple’s feet. It’s good because it makes me contemplate whether or not we have kept that mission as a couple. Have we served whenever we could? Have we served each other and God? Obviously that is a complicated question. I think we certainly have tried our best, with some great moments of service and moments when we can try harder.
This is a reminder for me and I hope it is to you as well. Sometimes we make the faith super complicated and heady. It doesn’t need to be. Are we serving? Jesus came and served. He was the Master and put himself in the place of the servant. He gave us an example. Do we follow it?
Especially in this world today, we need to serve. There is so much suffering, hurt, fear, anxiety, and worry. We can be the light to the world that goes out and serves without an expectation of getting anything back. All of us can grow in this area and that’s my prayer for myself today. That I grow even more in service during this month of Mary and try to do it in the way she did.
From all of us here at Diocesan, God Bless!
El 13 de mayo, Nathalie y yo celebramos el aniversario de nuestro compromiso, en la Fiesta de Fátima. Para los que han seguido nuestra historia, saben que nos casamos el 13 de octubre, la otra Fiesta de Nuestra Señora de Fátima.
Una de las razones por las que nos mantuvimos tan cerca de María durante estos momentos importantes es por su ejemplo de servicio. Cuando nos casamos optamos por lavarnos los pies en lugar de hacer la típica liga y ramo. Hicimos esto porque queríamos mostrarle al mundo que nuestro matrimonio sería uno de servicio, no solo el uno para el otro sino para el mundo.
Siempre es bueno escuchar esta lectura nuevamente donde Jesús lava los pies del discípulo. Es bueno porque me hace contemplar si hemos cumplido o no esa misión como pareja. ¿Hemos servido siempre que hemos podido? ¿Nos hemos servido el uno al otro y a Dios? Obviamente esa es una pregunta complicada. Creo que ciertamente hemos hecho nuestro mejor esfuerzo, con algunos grandes momentos de servicio y momentos en los que podemos esforzarnos más.
Este es un recordatorio para mí y espero que también lo sea para ti. A veces hacemos que la fe sea súper complicada y embriagadora. No tiene que ser así. ¿Estamos sirviendo? Jesús vino y sirvió. Era el Amo y se puso en el lugar del sirviente. Nos dio un ejemplo. ¿Lo seguimos?
Especialmente en este mundo de hoy, debemos servir. Hay tanto sufrimiento, dolor, miedo, ansiedad y preocupación. Podemos ser la luz del mundo que sale y sirve sin esperar nada a cambio. Todos nosotros podemos crecer en esta área y esa es mi oración por mí mismo hoy. Que crezca aún más en el servicio durante este mes de María y trate de hacerlo como ella lo hizo.
De parte de todos nosotros aquí en Diocesan, ¡Dios los bendiga!
Tommy Shultz is a Business Development Representative for Diocesan. In this role he is committed to bringing the best software to dioceses and parishes while helping them evangelize on the digital continent. Tommy has worked in various diocese and parish roles since his graduation from Franciscan University with a Theology degree. He hopes to use his skills in evangelization, marketing, and communications, to serve the Church and bring the Good News to all. His favorite quote comes from St. John Paul II, who said, “A person is an entity of a sort to which the only proper and adequate way to relate is love.”
Feature Image Credit: Ismael Paramo, unsplash.com/photos/Cns0h4ypRyA