The Gift of Foot-Washing
Jesus washed the feet of his disciples in today's Gospel passage, not because they were too lazy to handle their own hygiene and as their servant he would make life easy for them. Rather, he gave them (and us) a model to imitate.Have you washed anyone's feet lately? Maybe you haven't literally soaped up a friend's smelly feet as a sign of your unconditional love, but I'm sure you have given of yourself in a foot-washing way.
To wash the feet of others is to love them even when they don't deserve your love.
To wash the feet of others is to do good to them even if they don't return the favor.
To wash the feet of others is to consider their needs as important as your own.
To wash the feet of others is to forgive them even if they don't say, "I'm sorry."
To wash the feet of others is to serve them even when the task is unpleasant.
To wash the feet of others is to let them know you care when they feel downtrodden or burdened.
To wash the feet of others is to be generous with what you have.
To wash the feet of others is to turn the cheek instead of retaliating when you're treated unfairly.
To wash the feet of others is to make adjustments in your plans to serve their needs.
To wash the feet of others is to serve them with humility and not with any hope of reward.
Notice the posture of Jesus. He knelt. Imagine Jesus kneeling in front of you now, lowering himself to the level of your feet and tenderly ministering to your needs. He is in fact doing this, and he does it again and again, every day!
And he is asking you to go and do likewise: Be the hands of Jesus that wash the feet of the people around you. By serving others, we gain understanding of what Jesus did for us 2000 years ago -- and for how he's ministering to you right now.
Copyright © Terry A. Modica.
posted by Neil @ 11:12 PM
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