Jesus' Bucket List

Although I had occasionally sung and subbed in as music director for the Sunday 5:30 p.m. Mass, I truly 'joined' St. Monica in 2016 when I served as part of the team that launched the Liturgical Arts & Ministry Project, or LAMP. Although it only lasted three years, some of the finest youth musicians you see and hear at Youth Day and each week at St. Monica were uncovered at LAMP. Dozens of high-school youth would gather at Mt. St. Mary's University for a week-long overnight camp of liturgy, music, worship, and fun. Each day progressed toward a culminating festival on Saturday morning for the parents and families picking up their teens.

At one beautiful moment in that festival, each LAMP-er went out to their family in the pews and brought one person forward. Without explanation, they invited that cherished loved one—their father, aunt, or brother—to be seated as they removed their shoes and washed their feet. It was a compelling moment indeed for the teen, but especially for the recipients of this generous symbol of service and gratitude.

The world casually asks, "if this was your last day/week/month to live, how would you spend it?" It's hard not to ponder exotic trips, lavish meals, bungee jumping, or settling unfinished business. But Jesus, knowing the suffering he was to endure, chose to spend his last moments in service. He was present to those who loved him deeply, knelt, and washed their feet.

So as we move into Holy Week, thankful that most of us will avoid such an agonizing end, let us be challenged and inspired to change that suffering into service. You don't need to pretend it's your last day on earth to be present in someone's life. If that's not possible physically, St. Monica has beautiful postcards for you this weekend to send an Easter message of hope and gratitude. This is the great commission of Jesus: the mandatum—"as I have done for you, you should also do."