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Good morning. ÌýI never tire of telling the story of the mother who turned up at a drop-in centre in Glasgow, run by the Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul. She had a young son who had a severe learning difficulty and he was also incontinent. It was obvious that something needed to be done for this woman and her son. The boy could hardly walk, his feet were soaking, his shoes were two sizes too small and they hadn’t been off of his feet in months.Ìý

The worker at the drop-in centre went out and bought socks and a new pair of shoes for the boy – then she peeled off the old shoes, took the boy’s feet on her lap and she washed them clean. While she did that the boy’s mother wept.Ìý

That mother and that boy were experiencing the kind of generosity that they weren’t used to; they were experiencing an unconditional love which I would describe as the grace of God. For me the gospel was being preached without words and Christ was present in a pair of shoes and socks from a local supermarket.Ìý

One of the most powerful images in the New Testament is that of Jesus washing his disciples’ feet –

-Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý It’s powerful because it’s not what we expect. ÌýIt's powerful because it’s an image of role reversal. It’s powerful because leadership is demonstrated in humble service.

So t So today, maybe we can all try toÌýfind some way of doing something which is an act of unconditional love, orÌýsomething which is an act of humble service -Ìýand in so doing leave ourselves open to the idea that in such an action God may be very close.Ìý

God, who is love at the heart of existence,

God, who is made known in acts of mercy and kindness,

Be made known, this day, through the service we offer to others. AMEN