A storeowner wrote out a mission statement and gave each employee a copy of it. It read like this:

• A customer is the most important person in a business.
• A customer is not dependent on us, rather, we are dependent on him.
• A customer is not an interruption of our work; he is the purpose of it.
• A customer does us a favor when he comes in; we are not doing him a favor by waiting on him.
• A customer is not ‘money in the bank.’ He is a human being with feelings and deserves to be treated with respect.
• Customers are the lifeblood of business.
• Don’t ever forget it.

Mark writes out a mission statement for us who seek to be faithful followers of Jesus.

Whoever wants to be first, must be servant of all.

It is not so much a ‘what to do’ statement, but like the storeowner’s statement, it is an ‘attitude towards others’ mission. If my actions and my thoughts can conform to the example of Christ who washed the apostle’s feet, then I can properly withstand the deceptions and popular appeal of those who do not hold the Truth, which is our only hope for freedom and peace.

Let’s paraphrase the storeowner’s mission statement to illustrate what I mean:

• Each human being is the most important person in my life.
• I am not an island. I am dependent on other persons who share my faith.
• People are not an interruption of my life; they are the purpose of it.
• People do me a favor when they approach me in need; I am serving Christ by serving them.
• A human being is not ‘someone I can take advantage of.’ He is a person with feelings and deserves to be treated with respect.
• People are the lifeblood of the Church.
• Don’t ever forget it!

Saint Claude de la Colomiere, the spiritual director of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque wrote something interesting: “ You are happy in being chosen by God to enkindle His love in the hearts of others. To do this it is necessary to have deep humility and an entire distrust of self and those who have deserted their faith. We must act deliberately and confidently until it pleases God to accomplish in these souls that which His grace alone is capable of doing and of which He alone must reap the glory.” (Magnificat, September, 2012, p. 330)

My friends listen to the Gospel today and hear for you the Word of God. Consume it and make it a part of your everyday life so you can articulate for others the joy and freedom you possess through Jesus Christ.