Sacred Heart Parish in Mt. Pleasant shared a note from the pastor in its weekly bulletin.

Rev. Loren Kalinowski wrote that we are asked to follow Christ and be servants. 

He told the story of Anne Marie Schmidt, who lived in Czechoslovakia when the Nazis took over. 

“Early in the festivities, a servant whispered to her mother that Christ was at the door. Immediately, her mother excused herself. She found her mother on the ground in her elegant dress, washing the infected, dirt-caked feet of the filthiest, smelliest man Anne Marie had ever seen,” Rev. Kalinowski wrote. “Her mother began to cry, saying she thought she had failed as a mother if her daughter did not recognize Christ in the poor. The next morning, a curious Anne Marie looked for the man, who had not come to dinner. She found his bed unused and a single rose on the pillow. She learned that to serve the poor is to serve Christ.”

We must be willing to serve all people, whether they look like us or make us comfortable or not. Christ came to minister to the poor and dejected, not only those who needed him spiritually.

In order to lead, we must be willing to serve those around us. 

There are a number of ways in which we can help those around us: visiting the sick and imprisoned and feeding the homeless as just a couple ways. 

“People in nursing homes have been physically distanced from family and friends during the COVID-19 outbreak. Many people have found creative ways to stay connected. Some offer Zoom, Facetime, or other online chats. Others have window visits, patio visits, or drive-by visits. Phone calls and cards are always welcome,” Rev. Kalinowski wrote.

Let us remember to minister to and serve others with the love of Christ, even when we do not feel as though we want to.