6 Apr 2023
Wash One Another’s Feet
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For 6 April 2023, Holy Thursday, Mass of the Lord, based on John 13:1–15
Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, ‘Lord, are you going to wash my feet?’ Jesus answered, ‘You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.’ Peter said to him, ‘You will never wash my feet.’ Jesus answered, ‘Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.’ Simon Peter said to him, ‘Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!’ Jesus said to him, ‘One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.’ For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, ‘Not all of you are clean.’
After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, ‘Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.
Scripture passage from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright 1989, 1993, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
07 April 2023 @ 4:54 am
Dear Joan, it is always good to be with you, recently it was at Mike Chaplain’s funeral, a time of letting go and the collective “foot washing “ that we can provide each other when we gather to burry loved ones. Your words on this Holy Thursday provide much to reflect upon. I’m sure your sister felt your expression of love when washing her feet though she was unable to talk. It provided her with some final moments of pleasure as she was leaving this life.
I recently had a “foot washing” conversation with a dear friend as he let go of life while in Hospice Care. Medication provided a two hour window of time for us to remember together our years as friends. “I have no regrets” he said several times, wonderful words to be able to say at the end of one’s life, words full of forgiveness and gratitude. His niece who left the room for us to have some time together later said that she heard us laughing from down the hall where she was waiting to return. Imaging being able to leave this world laughing!
Death brings us all together as equals as we accompany one another in this leave-taking. For it is a journey we will all one day make. It is a time for mutual “foot washing” and the gifts it holds for us.
I send you Easter blessings, dear faithful companion in our preaching, Joe Kilikevice.