Our gospel links everything that happened on the day of the Last Supper with the
concrete reality of our lives. It says nothing about the Passover, the Eucharist, or
the Body and Blood of Jesus. Instead, it speaks of Jesus, Our Lord, getting down
on his knees to wash the feet of his disciples. It is this spirit of love and service of
brothers and sisters which is to be our outstanding Christian characteristic.
The gospel recounts the poignant and profound moment when Jesus washes the
disciples’ feet and his act which demonstrated humility and servitude encapsulates
the very core of Jesus’ teachings about love, service, and the true nature of
leadership.
Jesus, knowing of his divine origin and impending crucifixion, performs the role of
a lowly servant, and it serves as a powerful visual metaphor for the kind of love
and service that Jesus expects from us. It challenges our conventional notions
about leadership and authority, telling us that true greatness lies not in power or
prestige but in service to others.
The disciples, with their own cultural norms and understanding of hierarchy
initially resist Jesus’ gesture. However, Jesus insists, emphasizing that unless he
washes their feet they have no part with him. This underscores the importance of
humility and openness to receiving from others, even from one’s own leader or
teacher.
Jesus exhorts the disciples to follow his example and to serve one another in love,
stating, “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.”
This call to follow Jesus’ servant leadership remains with us today, reminding us of
the transformative power of selfless love and the importance of putting others’
needs before our own.
We’re prompted to consider the depth of Jesus’ love and the radical nature of his
Way. We’re challenged to examine our own attitudes towards leadership, service,
and relationships, urging us to strive for a more humble, compassionate, and
servant-hearted approach to life.