Beautiful Feet

Walking in the footsteps of Jesus carrying the Good News

11/30/2017

Matthew 4:18-22 As Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen. He said to them, "Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men." At once they left their nets and followed him. He walked along from there and saw two other brothers, James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat, with their father Zebedee, mending their nets. He called them, and immediately they left their boat and their father and followed him.

             Do you have beautiful feet? What a strange question! But I believe it’s also a very spiritual question. How beautiful are your feet? Several years ago I was listening to a series of talks by Christopher West, a modern theologian who has popularized Pope John Paul II’s “theology of the body.” At one point West abruptly declared: “I have beautiful feet!” That got my attention. He quickly explained what he meant, adding: “Yes, I have beautiful feet. Remember how Scripture says, ‘How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news’?” (Rom. 10:15). West went on to explain effusively that the Church’s teaching on human sexuality is very good news; indeed, it is some of the best news for a world deeply confused about the meaning of sex. The world has preached a lot of “bad news,” and West was bringing the Good News of Jesus Christ.

              But I would suggest to you that you do have beautiful feet, but they may not be spiritually beautiful. What do I mean? Well, how often and how enthusiastically have we shared all kinds of “good news” without hesitation or fear of rejection? After reading a gripping novel, we rush to tell all our friends and buy them that book for Christmas; we unreservedly recommend this or that restaurant and suggest items on the menu; we tell everyone, “Man, you have to go to this concert!” or “You’d be a fool to miss this art exhibit!” In all those instances, we, too, have beautiful feet because we are convinced we are carrying good news; only it’s not the Good News of Jesus Christ. Our feet are not spiritually very pretty.

              In the gospel today, we hear the footsteps of the two most beautiful feet in human history, namely, the feet of Jesus himself. Jesus’ feet carry him to share his Good News with the first apostles, Peter and Andrew, James and John. If those four apostles had looked down to glance at the Nazarene’s feet, they would have been blown away by their beauty. Why? Well, far more important than recommending a restaurant, or reading a book, or running to an art exhibit, Jesus brought the Good News of salvation. What the world is waiting for.

              The Catechism of the Catholic Church takes us to the heart of why we should share the Good News, that is, God’s love. We read: “The Lord’s missionary mandate is ultimately grounded in the eternal love of the Most Holy Trinity…The ultimate purpose of mission is none other than to make men share in the communion between the Father and the Son and their Spirit of love (Catechism, 850). In other words, Jesus’ traversed the infinite distance between heaven and earth to share the Good News of God’s love, so we might be partakers of that love. Those beautiful feet walked a long way for love of us.

              My friends, when you get home this evening and take off your shoes, and take a moment to examine closely your feet. Those hard working feet cover a lot of ground in a given day: to work or school, to the grocery store or hauling children to piano practice or soccer games, and maybe even to a hospital or to a cemetery or maybe even to church occasionally! As you study your toes and arch and ankle, also ask: “How beautiful are my feet spiritually-speaking?” In any instance or with any encounter, did I share the Good News of Jesus Christ? I don’t mean you have to walk around with a Bible or a rosary around your neck or always post spiritual ferverinos on social media. But does your life of piety, your penance, and your personal virtue make people stop and think of Jesus? Sometimes, the most effective evangelization occurs without ever uttering one word, because your feet do the walking and the talking.

              By the way, I was looking at my own feet the other day, and I thought, “Man, I really need a pedicure – I have some ugly feet!” But if you want really beautiful feet – as beautiful as Jesus’ feet – just share the Good News with the world.

Praised be Jesus Christ!