A good friend and staff member at Sacred Heart in Tampa (where I served for many years) was asked by the friars to prepare a reflection on St. Francis in honor of his Feast Day. Barbara is the Director of Faith Formation at the parish and a wonderfully vibrant and faithful woman. The final line of her reflection describes her well: “May we strive to emulate the spirit of St. Francis by leading lives of humble service to one another and to love the Lord God above all.”

Barbara’s Reflection

Humility. That is the virtue I feel we can clearly see in the life of St. Francis after his conversion. Francis, called to serve the Lord through the totality of his life, echoed the virtue of humility.

Have you ever had your feet washed? Have you ever washed someone else’s feet. Being on retreat several times, I’ve been on both sides and I must say that for me, doing the washing is much easier than being washed. It requires a great sense of humility for someone to touch and cleanse my feet.

For Jesus to wash someone’s feet back in his day meant a lot of dirt. They didn’t have paved roads or boots and shoes like we do now, so the job was pretty rough. Jesus humbly took off his outer garments, tied a towel around his waist and began washing the feet of his friends.

Are we more like Peter in his first response to Jesus? No way are you washing my feet! Or, when after hearing Jesus explain why he must wash his feet, submit to have our hands and head washed as well?

When we get out of the way and allow the Lord to do with us what He wants, we are much more equipped to serve Him in the people He places in our lives. When we can humble ourselves and allow the Lord to cleanse not only our feet, but our whole body, mind and soul, we have more of Him in us and can therefore be a better servant. As St. John the Baptist says, “more of Him and less of me.”

We live this Gospel here at Sacred Heart in many ways.

I see it in the generous and faithful hearts of our catechists who share the gospel each time they gather with the children and families.

I see it in the families who take care of a sick spouse, a dad who bathes his kids, a wife who picked the clothes up off the floor for the umpteenth time. Serving, just as Jesus would.

I see it lived out in the many folks who serve in the Hands of Hope ministry each Saturday as they prepare and share a meal for our homeless brothers and sisters.

I see it in my friend and co-worker who knows when I’m overwhelmed and I need some extra help.

This Gospel is lived out by the many actions we do each day, sometimes without even thinking. Serving one another, just as Jesus does. Seeing the Christ in people and going the extra mile even when we may not feel like it.

Francis exemplified through his actions throughout his life that he was all about serving the needs of others, especially the poor and sick. The example Francis took to heart was one of complete surrender to do the will of God and to allow his suffering at the end to bring others closer to Christ.

May we strive to emulate the spirit of St. Francis by leading lives of humble service to one another and to love the Lord God above all.

Barbara Ferreris | October 4, 2024 |Feast of St. Francis