Holy Thursday and Washing of the Feet

Happy Holy Thursday!

While there is so much to reflect and contemplate for this Holy Day before Easter especially when considering the Last Supper and the Institution of the Eucharist, for this blog post, and the plans for this evening....the focus in our house is the Washing of the Feet. Mr. Carefree was asked by our parish to participate in the Foot Washing Ceremony at our parish with our pastor. Being a First Communicant in a few short weeks, he was asked to join in with eleven other parishioners.

Upon delivering the news to our seven year old, I was forced to explain this important part of our Faith, in more simplistic terms to allow for his understanding. So much of this important act of Christ's was a demonstration of what true leadership is. To lead is to serve. And service isn't always pretty.

Sometimes to serve someone else is difficult, takes us out of our comfort zone, or it's a smelly job, a messy job, a sacrifice. To lead, you can't just say, 'I am the leader, follow me.' Leaders must first acknowledge those they intend to lead. Acknowledge them, tend to them, give them what they need, serve them and show them the ultimate reason to follow. Without good reason, no one will come for direction when they are lost. But showing them service first, tending to their needs.....will ultimately show them, that the leader is there for them.....and then those who have been tended to, will return, want more, and seek the truth.

Christ did for his Apostles, and told them, do the same. To lead, you must serve. It's a lesson for us all.

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.
He came to Simon Peter, who said to him,
“Master, are you going to wash my feet?”
Jesus answered and said to him,
“What I am doing, you do not understand now,
but you will understand later.”

Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.”
Jesus answered him,
“Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me.”

Simon Peter said to him,
“Master, then not only my feet, but my hands and head as well.”
Jesus said to him,
“Whoever has bathed has no need except to have his feet washed,
for he is clean all over;
so you are clean, but not all.”

For he knew who would betray him;
for this reason, he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

So when he had washed their feet
and put his garments back on and reclined at table again,
he said to them, “Do you realize what I have done for you?
You call me ‘teacher’ and ‘master,’ and rightly so, for indeed I am.
If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet,
you ought to wash one another’s feet.
I have given you a model to follow,
so that as I have done for you, you should also do.”

John 13

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