The Washing of Feet

“When the Lord of the world comes and undertakes the slave’s task of foot-washing – which is an illustration of the way he washes our feet all through our lives – we have a totally different picture. God doesn’t want to trample us, but kneels down before us so as to exalt us. The mystery of the greatness of God is seen precisely in the fact that he can be small… Only when power is changed from the inside, and we accept Jesus and his way of life, whose whole self is there in the action of foot-washing, only then can the world be healed and the people be able to live at peace with one another.”  ~ Pope Benedict XVI 

If our Lord and Savior humbled himself and washed the feet of his disciples, how can we expect that anything less is expected of us? Jesus washed the feet of Judas Iscariot knowing that he would betray him. He washed the feet of Peter knowing that he would deny him. He did it out of love because he is love. The Lord will always present himself as he is no matter who or what he encounters. His love is pure and without limits. He calls us to do the same; to love until the end. Just imagine what the world would be like if we lived as Christ calls us to live. We will never be able to love perfectly because we are broken, wounded, sinners. But even if we strive to love as Christ loved the world would be a much better place. What if we loved those who betrayed us or denied our presence?

I am sure after Peter denied our Lord he was crushed, the magnitude of his sin weighing him down. Remembering how he protested Jesus washing his feet, and proclaiming that he would never deny him. The words of Christ pounding in his ears, “What I am doing, you do not understand now, but you will understand later.”  (John 13: 7) These are the words I need to remind myself of when I don’t understand why something is happening in my life especially when I protest against God because it is happening. But God uses everything for his glory. Recalling how the Lord lovingly washed his feet knowing that Peter would deny him provides Peter with an example of how he is called to be compassionate toward others. The action of Jesus washing the feet of his disciples is more than just an example of his humility but is the beginning of his prefect obedience to his Father. “Jesus knew that his hour had come to pass from this world to the Father.” (John 13:1) He gave of himself completely to the end. We are to give of ourselves completely to the circumstances in our life whatever they may be. It may be putting our spouse and children before us. It may be living out the gospel in our workplace rather than allowing power or prestige to be what drives us. Or maybe our obedience to the Father is brought about when we are nailed to the cross with Christ and trusting that he has not abandoned us.