After he had washed the feet of his disciples, Jesus said to them: ‘I tell you most solemnly, no servant is greater than his master. (John 13:16)
Today’s Gospel (John 13:16-20) begins at the conclusion of one of the most dramatic gestures of Jesus, when he washed the feet of his disciples at the Last Supper. It was a very necessary action performed by the lowliest servant when people came into a household after wearing sandals in filthy streets. A necessary action that became highly symbolic. Jesus then teaches that whoever welcomes the servant, welcomes him.
Eugene de Mazenod’s response:
I will meditate on Jesus my love in his incarnation, his hidden life, his mission, his passion and death; but especially in his Sacrament and Sacrifice. My chief occupation will be to love him, my chief concern to make him loved. To this I will bend all my efforts, time, strength, and when after much toil I have succeeded in winning but a single act of love towards so good a Master, I will rightly consider myself very well paid.
Retreat notes, December 1812, O.W. XV n. 109
Today our feet are washed by every one of the generous people who contributes to our welfare and hope in any way.
Let us look at them with new eyes.
Let us recognize this gesture of Jesus loving us through them.
Thanks Frank for the inspiration shared. Kind regards. Kirk
There are images which pass before the new eyes of my heart this morning as we sit here in this sacred space of reflection and prayer. The first is of doctors and nurses rejoicing and dancing in their hospital workspace because they just been able to take another victim of COVID19 off of a ventilator. Everything about them portrays celebration, joy and gratitude.
The other image is that of an older woman, standing at the entrance of my grocery store, smiling, welcoming each of us as she directs us to food carts that have just been wiped down, treating us as if we were members of her own family. And as I leave the store she takes my shopping cart, wishing me a good day and reminding me to ‘stay safe’. I only have to look at her eyes to know that the words are real and felt. The other afternoon after shopping I waited just outside the door for the friend who had brought me shopping and so I stood with my face to the sun to bathe in its warmth. The greeter came out, turning her own face to the sun – we stood and rejoiced in being able to do that.
Yesterday a group of us met using ZOOM – our coming together to connect and to look at ways that we could connect and touch others – one-on-one or by pairing up, bringing others together, checking-on and in with.
Small reminders of Jesus loving us through each other and of having our own feet washed. This are the gifts, these are the pieces of our daily bread during this time of pandemic. And we give thanks for each one of them.