I thought for today's (admittedly late) post, I'd take a closer look at one of my favorite passages from one of my favorite books of the New Testament (John); specifically, the Washing of the Feet. For those of us who have been to a Holy Thursday liturgy, we've seen this part acted out in front of us. Maybe we see it as just another "thing" that happened that night, or a weird bit of the Gospel we don't really question. Like always, though, it's possible to go much deeper. So, in that spirit, duc in altum.
"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.'....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." -John 13:2-10, 12-14
This little episode starts with Jesus taking off his "outer garments" and tying a towel around his waist. Jesus isn't afraid to get dirty here. We usually picture him as the "radiant king" without a speck of dust, but when one lives in the desert one tends to get a bit dirty.
Next, he does something quite peculiar. He starts washing his disciples' feet. They were following him, not the other way around. Washing the feet was usually reserved for servants and slaves, yet here we see Jesus (Who, by this point, the apostles realized was not your average man) going so far as to say "Unless I wash you, you have no inheritance with me." With an ultimatum that severe, it becomes obvious that this wasn't just Jesus being polite. This was important. This would be like inviting the President to dinner, and having him do the dishes for you (and not intend it as a publicity stunt).
Personally, I can find a lot of significance in a few seemingly-minor details of this passage. First, Jesus washed their feet. Perhaps a little bit of the gravity of this is lost in translation. In first-century Judea, there were no waterproof combat boots. In the footwear department, it was sandals or nothing. Roads, for the most part - whether they led to Rome or otherwise - were lacking. So, one expected to get his feet filthy on even the briefest of excursions; hence, the need for servants to wash guests' feet.
So, we have Jesus (the master) going straight to the absolute dirtiest part of the disciples. He didn't offer to wash their hands for them, or their head, for "Whoever has bathed has no need except to have his feet washed, for he is clean all over."
I think by this point we all have to realize that Jesus wasn't talking about hygiene here. So, let's look at this from a spiritual perspective. Baptism is the "bath" - it cleans us completely and brings us into light. But, since we're still human we can goof up along the way. Our feet still get dirty. That's why Jesus is there - He understands how often we fall, so he gives us a way to "wash our feet". We don't need another bath, just some pit stops on the road.
In this brief passage, Jesus says "It's okay, I know you guys screw up sometimes. But, you're still good deep down" He sets up the foundations for what would eventually become sacramental Confession/Reconciliation. But, he also gives us the basis for Servant-Leadership.
Maybe Paul Girardi brainwashed me at all those FLASH retreats, but he does have a point. Jesus here is the perfect example of a servant-leader. He acknowledges that he is, in fact, the leader ("You call me master and rightly so, for indeed I am") but he still insists on doing the work of a servant. He serves the disciples and says "as I have done for you, you should also do" (13:15). He sets an example, and says "do as I do".
Jesus could have easily said "Wash one another's feet" but he didn't. He did it. Isn't that really the message behind the entire Gospel? Jesus doesn't just say to do something, he does it, then says "Follow me". Jesus doesn't just say "No greater love is there than this, to lay down one's life for a friend" - He dies for us. He doesn't just say "Give (the crowds) something to eat", he blesses bread. Every word comes with an action. Every prayer, a ritual. To those who say the Catholic church shouldn't focus on the ritual so much as the words, I challenge you to find where Jesus did not back up his words with actions (I digress though, perhaps this is a topic for another post).
Jesus lowered himself to serve others. He gives us powerful lessons regarding not only relationships with our fellow man, but how to behave in leadership positions as well. Jesus is saying "Don't just say, do. Lead by serving. Go directly to where it's 'dirtiest'. Don't be afraid to get your hands dirty."
Francis understood this. Even today, it is impossible to tell Franciscan brothers from priests just by looking at their habit, because they emphasize equality. No slave is greater than his master.
"I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do."
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