Scripture
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….[Then he said,] “For I have set
you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. Very truly,
I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers
greater than the one who sent them.”—John 13:3–5, 15–16
Reflection
The Mosaic law is filled with cleansing rituals: bathe regularly, wash
your hands before you prepare or eat food, wash them again after you touch
meat, and keep raw meat on separate plates from the other foods. These
laws were strictly observed by the Jewish people. We think of them today
as just common sense—in this knowledgeable world that understands the
nature of bacteria and viruses.
The washing of feet was a cleansing ritual common in the time of
Christ. It was a form of hospitality to wash the feet of a guest when they
entered your home, because most people wore sandals or went shoeless and
the unpaved roads were dusty. As was his habit, Jesus took this common
household courtesy and turned it into a symbolic act during the last
supper with his disciples. He washed their feet to show them that the
posture of a true follower of his was not to be served, but to be servant.
A true cleansing ritual is symbolic of the cleansing that takes place
within us as well as without. Baptism is basically a cleansing ritual made
sacramental by the depth of the spiritual cleansing and its connection to
the Divine.
Action
Slowly go through the motions of washing your hands. As the water
rinses away the dirt, germs, and unseen bacteria from your hands, ponder
how it is that God grants you forgiveness. Consider ways of using your
hands in service for others. Whose hands might you wash?
Prayer
Pray for God’s help in discovering your calling as a servant minister.
Keep the World Conference service project—the Habitat for Humanity home—in
your prayers. |
