Holy Thursday: An Example to Follow

 In today’s liturgy, we hear the story of Jesus washing his disciples’ feet at the Last Supper (Jn 13: 1-15), and we hear him say, “I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.”

When Jesus rises from supper and begins to wash his disciples’ feet, he’s doing more than commenting that their feet stink!  He is giving us an example to follow.  He is showing us what our lives are meant to become – that just as he bent down to serve his apostles, we are called to bend down and humbly and lovingly serve our brothers and sisters in imitation and in memory of him.

Simply put, he gives us a new commandment of love.  Love for our brothers and sisters of every age, race and tongue; love for all through acts of humble service; love modeled on Jesus’ very life; love that will be shown to us tomorrow on the cross and later in the empty tomb. 

Now, oftentimes, folks will find it strange that on this evening, when we recall the Last Supper, that we get a Gospel reading about washing feet. 

But really this new commandment of love flows directly from the Eucharist.  At the Last Supper, Jesus says, “This is my body given for you.  This is my blood poured out for you.”  Out of great love, Jesus gives himself and pours out himself to each one of us.  Here, Jesus gives us another example of loving service, and he gives his life so that we might have life ourselves.  In bread and wine, in body and blood he shows us a self-sacrificing love, and he invites us to do the same.  He invites us to be Eucharist for our brothers and sisters.  He invites us to give of our own bodies, to pour out our own selves in humble and loving service, all so that others might know life…just as he has done for us.

In the washing of feet; in the giving of bread and wine, body and blood…here we see Eucharist on full display and we are reminded of what our lives are to be about: bending down to serve others; lives broken open for others; love poured out for others; new life offered to others.

In the past year, we have already witnessed many individuals who have done this:

·       Healthcare workers/scientists/vaccine administers who have taken care of all of us

·       Grocery and retail workers/delivery drivers who have kept life moving for us

·       School personnel who daily look out for their students in new and creative ways

·       Countless individuals who have looked in on elderly neighbors or called those who are lonely

·       Those who have donated food and other necessities for those out of work

·       Friends who have simply texted “How are you doing today?” or dropped off chicken soup and Gatorade when we weren’t feeling well

And each and every one of us is invited to do the same.  To follow the example of Jesus; to give our bodies and blood; to wash others feet.  All, of course, in our own way, humbly serving our sisters and brothers in acts of love both great and small.  All in imitation of Jesus and in memory of him. 

As we once again reflect on Jesus washing the feet of his disciples’ may each of us hear the words of Jesus and vow to live them fully:

“I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.”

 

If you want to give yourself a 4 minute mini retreat, reflect with the song “As I Have Done for You” by Dan Schutte (2001, Published by OCP)