“Fully United in the Father He Washed Their Feet” by Beth DeCristofaro

“Fully United in the Father He Washed Their Feet” by Beth DeCristofaro

Holy Thursday – Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper

So, during supper, fully aware that the Father had put everything into his power and that he had come from God and was returning to God, he rose from supper and took off his outer garments. He took a towel and tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and dry them with the towel around his waist. (John 13:2-5) 

Pope Francis performs the foot-washing ritual
at the Castelnuovo di Porto refugees center near Rome
on March 24, 2016.(Photo: Vatican Press Office via AFP/Getty Images)

Piety

May we prefer nothing to the love of Christ, and may he bring us together to everlasting life. Amen. (From the Morning Offering of the Day)

Study

Jesus knew who he was. He knew that he was God’s and he always acted out of that identity to bring the Word of God to God’s beloved creatures, his beloved friends. John’s Gospel does not bring us the scene of the breaking of the bread and pouring of the wine which we understand as instituting the Eucharist. Instead John shows us Jesus sharing his body with those who believe. His shocking action, a teacher serving those lower in status, makes his friends equal to him. Peter’s subsequent attempt to refuse this service means that he refuses an intimate relationship with Jesus. But Jesus, in God’s way, gently reminds Peter of all that he is offered in this simple act.

“Love your neighbor as yourself” is basic and ingrained in our faith. But giving as Jesus did at this moment and then on the Cross is a very high bar indeed. Many times, if I am honest with myself I “do unto others” because it is expected or it is socially appreciated or even in a spirit of spite rather than self-giving. “Love your neighbor as yourself,” modeled by Jesus, is a desire to love your friend – whomever she or he might be at the moment – because you desire the very best for that friend. As Jesus tells his disciples, you find friendship with him in these moments and eternal life is in the making.

Action

Jesus accepted Peter’s desire to be with him (“Where would I go?” Peter says) even though Peter questioned and doubted. Jesus washed Judas’ feet even though he knew that betrayal was close. Jesus’ self-giving love is not tied to expectations or judgment.

Let yourself join the disciples in your mind’s prayer and imagine Jesus washing your feet. In gratitude and hope in Jesus’ resurrection for you, keep that image in your mind as you serve others, forgiving yourself if your intentions are not as pure as you might wish.

Illustration: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2016/03/24/we-brothers-pope-francis-washes-feet-migrants/82214856/