A reading from the Holy Gospel according to John (Jn 13: 1 – 15)
+ Before the feast of Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to pass from this world to the Father. He loved his own in the world and he loved them to the end. The devil had already induced Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot, to hand him over.
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 he 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.”
The Gospel of the Lord
Reflection
Two thousand years ago, on the night we call “The Lord’s Supper”, Jesus not only instituted the Sacrament of the Eucharist and of the priesthood, but He also instituted the model for true divine leadership. Through most of the human history, leaders have claimed they derive their power to rule from God. Under this scheme, power has flowed from the few at the top towards the rest of society at the bottom, while also maintaining a physical and emotional separation. Jesus, the true divine King and Lord, set the scheme of power on its head. Through his ministry and particularly through the washing of the feet, Jesus sets the expectations for all his disciples: to use our God-given talents and skills at the service of all, while also remaining close to those we serve!
Through human history, the correlation between fancy vestments and adornments with social status is a one-to-one correlation: the higher the person’s social status, his or her vestments and adornments are more intricate and expensive. In most cases, it is easy to determine how high a person’s position is in the structure of society by the type of vestments he or she wears. These vestments are carefully crafted and chosen to signal the power these people wield. The type of fabric, the color, the metals and precious stones sown into the vestment, the stitching, the style, the length, how it adheres to the body, and many other details are carefully selected and executed. Similarly, the user choses the vestment he or she will wear according to the occasion, particularly for feast, business, or religious rituals. Vestments tells us much about who the wearer is and how separated and unconcerned they may be of the rest of society.
In the passage today, we hear that Jesus “rose from supper and took off his outer garment…and began to wash the disciples’ feet.” In all paintings of the Last Supper, we see Jesus sitting in the middle. While no direct reference exists to this claim, there is a high probability that Jesus was given a place of honor at table. Leaving that place is the first symbol of his rejection of any human honor. Removing his outer garments, as simple and humble as they most probably were, was the second symbol of rejecting any social standing in this world. Finally, the act of washing the disciples’ feet may be interpreted as our duty and obligation to do whatever we can to make sure those around us remain clean of any sin. The only way to clean someone’s feet is by being close to them!
With these acts Jesus, who is by all rights the highest authority divine and human, reverses the idea that divine authority flows downward. Jesus’ acts symbolize that, while it is true that all power come from God, power does not flow to those sitting in thrones, wearing fancy clothes, and so distant that they are unaware of the needs of those in the lower levels of society. Divine power is granted to all those are willing to use whatever talents and skills God gifted them with and place them at the service of all.
When Jesus sat at table, and most probably did so at the seat of honor, it was with all of his garments. This may be interpreted as indicating that it is okay to accept human ways of honor. One can be referred to as “Doctor”, or as “Your Honor”, or as “President”, as “Reverend”, or simply as Dad or Mom, as long as our heart and soul do not get enslaved to these titles and to the earthly power they offer. We must be willing to devest ourselves of any such titles whenever we are called to assist others.
Today, we are reminded that Jesus has left us a model to follow. A model of humility and service. As Jesus did two thousand years ago in this very night, we should also be ready to rise from supper and take off our outer garment, and wash the feet of those around us!
Action of the Day
How and to whom are you a leader? As a manager? As a member of a committee of a private, governmental or religious entity? Do you have a title such as President, Doctor, Officer, Your Honor? Does anyone call you mom, dad, uncle, aunt, Godfather or Godmother, brother or sister? Are you a Christian? If so, you are a leader!
As such, Jesus is reminding us that true leadership is divinely given to all and we must use our position as leaders to serve others, to assist them on their journey through Earth and onto heaven.
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