The Washing of the Feet

Love one another, as I have loved you.
John 13:34

Opening Prayer

Jesus, help me to spread your fragrance wherever I am.
Fill my heart with your Spirit and your life.
Penetrate my being and take such hold of me that my life becomes a radiation of your own life.
Give your light through me and remain in me in such a way that every soul I come in contact with can feel your presence in me.
May people not see me, but see you in me.
Remain in me, so that I shine with your light, and may others be illuminated by my light.
All light will come from you, oh Jesus.
Not even the smallest ray of light will be mine. You will illuminate others through me.
Place on my lips your greatest praise, illuminating others around me.
May I preach you with actions more than with words, with the example of my actions, with the visible light of the love that comes from you to my heart.
Amen.

Written by Cardinal Newman
Prayed by the Missionaries of Charity every day

Introduction

How can you be successful? What makes a good leader? What makes a Christian leader? These are some of the questions that are answered by the story where Jesus washes his disciples’ feet.

We are faced with a culture that esteems power and strength and defines success by how much money you have. It really seems to buy into the adage that “power means you never have to say ‘I’m sorry.’”

Yet Jesus presents a different picture of how we are to relate to each other, a different form of leadership. His model of leadership seems to be that of servant leadership.

Questions

Ask someone to read John 13:1-20, the story of Jesus washing the disciples’ feet.

Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. The devil had already put into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper 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. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus answered, “You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.” Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” Jesus said to him, “One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.” For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, “Not all of you are clean.”
            After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord – and you are right, for that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 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. If you know these things you are blessed if you do them. I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But it is to fulfill the scripture, ‘The one who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’ I tell you this now, before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe that I am he. Very truly, I tell you, whoever receives one whom I send receives me; and whoever receives me receives him who sent me.”

Discuss the following questions with the group:

Washing someone’s feet was one of the lowliest jobs a servant would do. How do you think the disciples felt when they saw Jesus doing this for them? Why did he do it?
What was Peter’s reaction to Jesus washing his feet? Why do you think he reacted the way he did? What made him change his mind? What does this suggest?
What would you do, how would you feel if you were present at this dinner?
In light of the story, what does servant leadership mean?
How do we wash each other’s feet?
Does the water seem to have another significance here?
This action takes place at what is known as the Last Supper during which the Eucharist was instituted in other Gospels. Is there any significance to this?

Points to bring out in the discussion are: Jesus’ call to love without limits, that the service we give one another is a service of love, that we show we are his disciples by following his example, there is an element of purification in the cleansing, but this purity or cleanliness can also reflect a pure and humble spirit that is willing to serve others. Jesus not only humbled himself by washing their feet, but also humbles himself every time he becomes present in the Eucharist so that we can be fed by him, and strengthened by this, go out into the world as his messengers.

Understanding

This story is about service and sacrifice. It is about a style of leadership that leads by example and by helping others. You may wish to reinforce this message by arranging a service placement at a shelter, or soup kitchen or seniors home, etc. where your group will have the opportunity to follow Jesus’ example and “wash their feet.” There are resources in the Service section to help you plan an activity. If you are not able to do so, then the following exercise may be helpful.

Are there real life examples of servant leaders? Have a collection of magazines and newspapers on hand. I would be helpful if there was Internet access as well. Split the group in smaller groups of about 4 or 5. Ask the groups to look for examples of people who are showing the kind of leadership that Jesus revealed and then to present what they found. Contemporary examples are best, but they can also talk about some important figure(s) from the last century. They do not need to be Christian. You may wish to ask one group to concentrate on politicians, another on artists, another on business people, etc.

Was it easy or difficult to find people who exemplify these Christian values?
What would motivate you to follow Jesus’ example?

Reflection

Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death – even death on a cross.
Philippians 2: 5-8

Read either the above quote or John 13:1-20 again. Try to enter into the story. Remain in the story for a while.

Who are you when you are in the story?
What are your thoughts? Feelings?
Is there something that attracts you or repels you?
What do you think God is trying to communicate to you?

Note your answers down in your journal.

Closing Prayer

If you are able, close with a foot washing ceremony, otherwise:

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace!
Where is hatred, let me sow love.
Where there is injury, pardon.
Where there is doubt, faith.
Where there is despair, hope.
Where there is darkness, light.
Where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,
Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console,
To be understood as to understand,
To be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive.
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned.
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Amen

(St. Francis of Assisi)