Question of the Week, 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B
“Did you get up on the wrong side of the bed this morning?” my mom would ask if I seemed to be having an off day. I could hear her saying those words to me recently when I not only “woke up on the wrong side of the bed,” but just had a couple of days when I was really out of sorts. Definitely not days on which I would invite others to “do as I do” in order to be a Christian.
But on those very days, three people--following in the footsteps of Paul, who followed in the footsteps of Jesus—were the healing and uplifting presence of Christ to me.
For two days in a row, as I approached the drive-in window to pay for my morning beverage, I was told, “The lady ahead of you paid for your drink this morning and wanted me to tell you to have a blessed day!” And at the end of the second day, the UPS driver rang our doorbell and handed me a box containing twelve beautiful pears. The friend who sent them does not normally gift us in such a lavish way, but when I thanked her, she said, “I just wanted to thank Michael and you for all the hospitality you’ve shown me over the years.”
Now, those are three examples of people to imitate. Two of them will never know that their blessings touched my life and my heart on just the right days.
This week, I’m challenging myself to follow in their footsteps. I may never know how my words and actions uplift or encourage someone else who “got up on the wrong side of the bed” this morning, but that’s not important. I just hope to inspire others to follow in my footsteps as I imitate three people who touched my life by imitating Paul, who imitated Jesus, the One whom we are called to imitate each and every day.
Mary Sellars Malloy has over forty years’ experience as a Catholic educator and lay minister. She is a frequent workshop presenter on prayer, liturgy, spirituality, the Sacraments, and the RCIA. Also, Mary leads retreats and parish missions throughout the country. Her goal is to encourage Catholics of all ages to appreciate and to live their Catholic faith.