Holy Thursday 2014

John 13:1-15

Peter responses to Jesus’ explanation as to why he needs his feet washed with childlike, wholehearted, over-the-top, “Heck with my feet, my whole body!” affection and enthusiasm. Like Peter, we want to make grand gestures; “bigger is better.” In this act, Jesus is saying that holiness involves ‘wee-bits.’ Because feet-washing was commonplace and ordinary, He is also indicating that holiness involves the intention and compassion behind daily, banal tasks.

Jesus is doing much more than being a role model and giving an example. As slaves typically washed the feet of a guest as a gesture of hospitality and hygiene in preparation of a meal, by washing His disciples’ feet, Jesus is inviting and welcoming them into “Church,” and most fundamentally into the Eternal Banquet. Barclay points out that entering a home clean is analogous to entering the Church through baptism. In washing the disciples’ feet, Jesus makes it clear; it’s not enough to be clean. We must also perform commonplace, wee-bit acts of compassion, love and mercy.

In the Testament of Abraham (considered apocalyptic literature of Jewish origin), Abraham tells Isaac to wash the feet of Michael, the angel sent to tell Abraham that it’s time to die. Michael is so moved by the gesture that he cries, returns to the Lord, and tells Him that he (Michael) did not tell Abraham of his death, because Abraham was “too nice” (The Encyclopedia of Angels, Rosemary Guiley, Infopress, 2004). Perhaps similarly, Jesus is acknowledging the holiness (in spite of their humanity) of his disciples. The washing of feet had come to be expected for hygiene reasons; however, it would tend towards overtones of care and thoughtfulness superseding convention.

Moreover, in washing their feet He may be blessing them and endowing them with greater holiness. While commentaries do not make this point, we need to remember that the hands washing their feet are the same hands with the power to touch and heal most probably thousands of people.

“The same Greek words that Jesus uses laying down his life in taking up again in John 10:17-18 are here employed to describe how Jesus ‘laid aside’ his garments (13:4) in service” (Ignatius Catholic Study Bible). The same commentary states that Christ’s clothes are symbolic of His human life. In reconciling these two ideas, we realize that when the overlay of clothes and humanity are stripped away from Jesus at the foot- washing, later at the scourging, and earlier at His baptism, He is most clearly exposed as Divine.

Like the feet-washing, these charitable acts prepare us for Christ’s instruction; they open the heart and till the soil so that we are ready for the seeds of His teaching. Indeed, there are four chapters in John’s gospel between the feet- washing in the evening and the agony in the Garden the following morning. These chapters are referred to as the ‘Book of Glory’ and they are his final instructions to His disciples. Because they are embedded in the Passion story, yet not included in the Holy Week liturgies, reflections on each of the five segments within the book will be posted on this website.

Journal Questions

List the everyday, ordinary tasks you perform.
What are your attitudes, emotions and intentions with regards to them?
How do you welcome people into your church, home, or community?

Writing Exercise

Remember a time in which you have felt naked or exposed. How has that led to greater holiness?

Creative Arts

Fabric Arts-Construct a piece or quilting square that somehow utilizes or represents “wee-bits.”

Paper Arts-Father Bob Gilroy (whose art is used on this website) has a painting called The Last Supper(http://www.prayerwindows.com/gallery/) (Third Phase, #18). Using that piece as inspiration, title a work similarly, and proceed to create it.

Home Arts Activity-Think of and do wee-bit acts of compassion and service above and beyond what you do already.

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