If I,
then, the Lord and Master, have washed your feet, you must wash each
other's feet. I have given you an example so that you may copy what I have done
to you. In all truth I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, no
messenger is greater than the one who sent him. (John 13:14-16)
During
the Last Supper, Jesus held nothing back in giving of his very flesh and blood
to nourish and unite his closest friends (and all of us) to Him in the gift of
the Eucharist. On that sacred night where he also instituted the Sacrament/Mystery
of the Priesthood, he also taught us one of the most life-forming lessons as he
(who is our Lord and God) got down on his knees and washed the feet of his
apostles to model to them what true humility and perfect love looks like in
action. It pours itself out for the good
of the other…
As I
reflect on this powerful scene of Jesus washing his disciples’ feet, his simple
yet profound actions portray that there no boundaries when it comes to stooping
down to love and serve us, his beloved sons and daughters. There is nothing too
ugly that Jesus cannot touch and heal within me and in the hearts of all those
I serve. The Crucifix is the ultimate reminder of this total self-giving love.
Jesus’ hands are extended wide open as they are nailed to the cross for our
salvation and the forgiveness of our sins.
We
are instructed by Jesus to live in this perfect love and give of our self without
holding anything back. What a beautiful and challenging invitation this is for
us in living out our daily discipleship. To die to our selfishness, and to go
out of our comfort zones to receive and share Jesus’ healing love and light
with our wounded brothers and sisters. To paraphrase the great Saint John Paul II,
it is giving our self away in selfless love that we truly find our self and
experience deep fulfillment and purpose in life.
Thank you Lord Jesus for drawing close to me
in my messiness. Come and heal what needs to be restored in my life and
relationships. Jesus, you are my Divine Physician, come and wash away my sins
and fill me with the newness of life. I surrender to you my brokenness,
limitations and sins. May my weaknesses
be a way of drawing closer to you, you who are infinite mercy and perfect love.
Grant me the grace to share this healing love I have received with all those I
encounter and serve. Amen.