Washing Feet

In Matthew, Mark and Luke we can read the story of the last supper, the first eucharist or communion service, Jesus’ new Passover meal. From the very earliest times up until today Christians have regularly shared this meal in many and varied forms.

It is worth reflecting on the fact that in John’s Gospel we do not find a Last supper meal. Instead we find the story of Jesus washing his disciples’ feet. It is curious to reflect on how the Church might be different if from the earliest times we had regularly followed Jesus’ instruction to was each others’ feet? Not just our own feet but those of our neighbours and friends. Would we have had so much division over questions of who was allowed to have their feet washed by whom?

In getting down on his hands and knees to wash his disciples feet Jesus took the lowest place, the lowest social position. We can sense the scandalousness of the act in Peter’s reaction. Is this love taken too far? And yet it is only a precursor to an even greater act of love a few hours later on the cross. What Peter is not able to understand is that Jesus is not able to love from a position of superiority. Love can only ever be incarnated in weakness, from below. If Peter is to receive love then he must allow Jesus to lower himself. Peter is not the source of love, only if he receives can he in turn pass on this love to others by washing their feet. None of us can remain faithful to living the radical love of the gospel unless we are open to receiving this same love.

At its heart the way of Jesus Christ is very simple, we are called to welcome love into our lives through prayer, through accepting the service of others and through our reflection on the bible. If we devote ourselves to these practises with all our hearts then we will not be able to do anything but let this love flow out to others, slowly God will transform us and convert us into a community of love whose most natural inclination is to wash feet.