Today our Lenten journey is brought into sharp focus. Perfect love is what John suggests. On the very eve of his suffering Jesus continues to love and he is still ready to go the extra mile. The synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke) give us an account of Jesus giving his body and blood as an everlasting covenant with humanity. Not only has Jesus given himself
in this meal with his disciples; he goes the extra mile and washes the feet of his disciples. However, in John's gospel, it is the washing of the feet that takes prominence, and not the institution of the Eucharist, although the two are intimately connected and cannot be understood separately. Jesus is ready to give up his life for those he was sent to serve. Despite his imminent death note how outwardly focused Jesus is, he is not wrapped up in his own fate but still cares for those around him.
Very often when we face big occasions, our whole focus is on ourselves. Jesus does not once look inward and feel pity for himself, rather he accepts his fate and continues to serve others. Washing someone’s feet is a rather repulsive action for most of us and it’s not something we readily offer to do. Yet Jesus will do whatever is necessary.
Peter, realising what Jesus is doing is repulsive, and embarrassed by the thought of Jesus washing his feet, tries to get out of it. Like Peter, we also try to block the love that Jesus wants to show us. Jesus tells Peter that unless he has his feet washed by the Lord, he can have no part in him. As Jesus insists, Peter gives in. We can only be of service to others and love them perfectly
when we experience the perfect love of Jesus and allow ourselves continually to experience it. The journey of life takes us along many different, often dusty or muddy paths, and our feet get dirty. Again and again we will need our feet washed by the Lord. God never fails to offers us opportunities for confession and conversion. We in turn are asked to treat others as God treats us, never being unwilling to wash their feet when they ask us to. It is our willingness to do this that shows we are
part of Jesus.
Jesus tells us that this is exactly what true disciples should do: not be engrossed in ourselves but rather look outwards, see others in need and be ready to serve them, even in washing smelly feet!
Lent has been a time of stock-taking for us, a time of refocusing and re-entering the place of truth by reclaiming our true identity. Hopefully Lent has taught us that our true identity is found in loving service of others. The conscious decision is to be selfless instead of selfish and self-indulgent. Jesus did just that and calls us to do to others as our Lord and teacher has done for
us.
What have I learnt during this time of Lent?
How can I better be ‘part’ of Jesus and a true disciple from what I have learnt this Lent?
