The washing of the feet (John 13,1-15)

At the very heart of the Christian life is the great Paschal mystery, those events of the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus which we celebrate in a special way during these days of Holy Week. Many Christians, nowadays, take this mystery for granted, and we often fail to realise the depth (and implications) of the mystery we celebrate. We underestimate how hard it actually is. As St Paul succinctly puts it, the cross is a “scandal for the Jew, folly for the gentile” (1 Cor 1,23). For many — even for people of faith — this mystery remains a scandal, in its etymological sense — a stumbling block. How can it be that such a gruesome and cruel death by crucifixion — one of the worst forms of torture imaginable — has saving value for us and for all?

Jesus, however, offers an answer. The night before his Passion he leaves us two potent signs that offer a key to reading his Passion: the institution of the Eucharist, narrated by St Paul in the first letter to the Corinthians (11,23-25) and in the synoptic gospels (Mt 26,26-29; Mk 14,22-25; Lk 22,15-20), and the washing of the feet, narrated in the Gospel according to John (13,1-15) and echoed indirectly by Luke (22,24-30). During the Mass In Cena Domini on Holy Thursday, the Church offers us two texts (1 Cor 11, and John 13), and both signs: the washing of the feet, and the Eucharist. Because the washing of the feet and the Eucharist go hand in hand, and offer us the key to read the Paschal mystery.

For today’s lectio, I will stop on the washing of the feet in John 13,1-15 [here on bible.omerus.org].

* A brief note, before moving on. If this is your first lectio on this blog, I would suggest reading some introductory notes on prayer which you find here.

Lectio

Once you find a quiet place where to pray, I invite you to make this introductory prayer, asking for the grace, using this ancient prayer of St Richard of Chichester.

O most merciful redeemer, friend and brother,
may I know thee more clearly, love thee more dearly,
and follow thee more nearly, day by day. Amen.

We now move to a first calm reading of the entire passage, before moving on to a few notes and comments.

[1] he loved them to the end. The Gospel according to John does not narrate the institutions of the Eucharist. Not because John was not aware: if anything, John’s is the gospel with the long discourse of Jesus as the “bread of life” (John 6,22-58). Instead, the gesture of love which John focuses here is the washing of the feet.

[2] Good to note this moment happens during the meal which Judas Iscariot is still present. Jesus washes the feet even of the own who betrays him.

[4] took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. Bringing water to wash the feet is a gesture of hospitality (Gen 18,4; Lk 7,44) but washing the feet itself is usually something done by the servants or slaves, not the master of the household.

[6] “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Peter is shocked, and initially refuses Jesus’ gesture.

[7] “You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.“ In fact, we might say that this applies to the Passion itself.

[8] “Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.” I find Jesus’ words here very interesting. He speaks of the washing of the feet in terms of participation, of communion.

[9] “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” As usual, Peter exaggerates. He seems unable to find the middle ground: its all or nothing.

[14] “So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet …” As already noted above, the washing of the feet is not usual done by the master, but by the servant. Jesus himself underlines this.

“… you also ought to wash one another’s feet.” These words are taken as a commandment by the Church, translating in very practical terms the great commandment: “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.” (John 13,34). The name Maundy Thursday comes from here: “Mandatum novum do vobis …” “I give you a new commandment …” Liturgically, this is gesture is lived solemnly on Holy Thursday — a gesture that remains a powerful and meaningful one (when lived well), and among the strongest signs for me as a priest. The Rule of St Benedict (53:13), foundational for Western monasticism, requires the abbot and monks to wash the feet of their guests, among the various signs of hospitality.

Meditatio

I now invite you to re-read the passage. It may also help to try and imagine the scene: Jesus washing the feet (maybe also washing your feet), the conversation between Peter and Jesus, the commandment of Jesus to his apostles.

I may then stop to reflect on ourselves and consider:

Jesus chooses a very humble gesture to express his love. God made man, the Lord of the Universe, chooses to become a servant, instead of a master. Love — and love till the end — is marked by service. How does this speak to me?
Jesus washed the feet of Judas, who will betray him, Peter, who will deny him, and the apostles, who will escape and leave him alone. God does not love in a do ut des, a quid pro quo, a love that is almost an economic transaction, that requires reciprocity. Jesus gives himself without conditions. Where am I called, in my life, to give myself without expecting anything in return?
Peter at first refuses the gesture of Jesus. Where in my life to I not let myself be loved by the Lord? Where do I struggle to accept that God loves me, serves me, wants to wash my feet?
Jesus commands us to do as he did, to love as he loves us. Jesus does not only speak about love, but shows us how, he models for us the kind of love to which we are called. How does this speak to me in my inmost being? Where do I struggle most to love in my life?

Oratio

I then bring this reflection into conversation with the Lord. How does this all speak to you? Speak with Jesus “as a friend talks to a friend.” What would you life to ask? Maybe forgiveness for something, maybe some particular grace.

Complatio

Finally, stay in the presence of the Lord in silence. Perhaps you may want to stop and contemplate one of the scenes, particular Jesus at Peter’s feet, washing them.

Concluding the moment of prayer, we pray the Anima Christi:

Soul of Christ, sanctify me
Body of Christ, save me
Blood of Christ, inebriate me
Water from the side of Christ, wash me
Passion of Christ, strengthen me
O good Jesus, hear me
Within thy wounds hide me
Permit me not to be separated from thee
From the wicked foe defend me
At the hour of my death call me
And bid me come to thee
That with thy saints I may praise thee
For ever and ever. Amen.

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Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 the 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.