FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 2012
John 13:14 "Ye ought to wash one another's feet..."
SCRIPTURE READING: JOHN 13:3-17
3. Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God;
4. He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments, and took a towel and girded himself.
5. After that he poureth water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.
6. Then cometh he to Simon Peter and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?
7. Jesus answered and saith unto him, What I do thou knowest not now, but thou shalt know hereafter.
8. Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.
9. Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.
10. Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.
11. For he knew who should betray him, therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.
12. So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?
13. Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.
14. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.
15. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
16. Verily, verily I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his Lord; neither is he that is sent greater than he that sent him.
17. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.
REFLECTION: When we first read that Jesus washed the disciples' feet we are naturally discomfited. Our Messiah did what? We side with Peter, "Thou shalt never wash my feet." (John 13:8).
Then we think again: "What a servant-leader!" "What a great example!"
Without moving a muscle we think: "Christians ought to follow Christ's example...they really should..."
Perhaps it has always been this way, but it seems that today there's a lot more admiration than imitation of Christ.
In the 4th century Church, Evagrius Ponticus wrote of the temptation to acedia--apathy and inactivity in the practice of virtue. It is a vice that if left unattended and unchecked will lead to boredom and ultimately profound sadness.
When it comes to foot-washing, the lure of acedia (inactivity) has rendered many of us motionless.
I wish I had a nickle for every time I've heard a young person whining, "I'm bored." Of course you are. Motionless people are bored people. Get up and start washing feet!
Richard Hutter is right: "acedia...leads to despair...[it produces] a sadness that will always cause problems." (First Things, April 2012).
Ah ha! Now I see why Jesus said, "ye ought to wash one another's feet...I have given you an example...If ye know these things happy are ye if ye do them." (John 13:15-17). Indeed!
FOOT-WASHING IS NOT ONLY ABOUT HUMILITY, IT'S ABOUT BOREDOM-SPOILING ACTIVITY!
IT IS NOT ONLY ABOUT BEING GOOD, IT'S ABOUT DOING GOOD!
AND, IT'S NOT ONLY ABOUT ACTIVITY, IT'S ABOUT THE JOY THAT IS THE INEVITABLE REWARD OF VIRTUOSITY. Again, "Happy are ye if ye do them." (John 13:17)
Where is that wash basin?
PRAYER: Oh Lord God, it is with absolute confidence we can say, "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above!" We have found it so. Not only are you the source of all that is good, you are the same, yesterday, today, and forever. Thank you for sending your son to teach us how to think, to show us how to act, and to make us into what we should be. May we be employed today, and every day, in loving you and our neighbor. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen. "Our Father, &c."
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