
Isaiah 49:3,5-6, 2nd Sunday on Ordinary time
‘It is not enough for you to be my servant,to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back the survivors of Israel; I will make you the light of the nations so that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.’
She could have been 70 or more the little nun, wandering amongst us pilgrims with her back pack. “Your feet ?” She asked in a confident English, but just in case pointed at our open toed walking sandals.
There was nooooo way anyone was going near these babies after walking in the Lithuanian heat and dust for two days, I didn’t want to touch my feet, I certainly wasn’t going to allow anyone else. So on she went to another group who were more in need ? Or maybe just more able to accept someone their grandmothers age, sat on the floor ministering to their feet with water, plasters, blister treatment. I never spoke again to this nun, never knew her name, order or anything about her but she did give me a lasting lesson in what a humble servant heart looks like.
The Easter I was received into the church I was asked if I would like my feet washed by the priest, the thought appalled me, I said “no way” with enough certainty that no one asked again, ever.
8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”
Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” 9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” John 13:8-9
As these words were read out in the Mass that year, I felt sick, really sick, I was not graced with Peter’s speedy revelation, I’d stopped at “not a chance” and it was too late.
I don’t know why it’s so hard to be served? To accept the service and not to be the servant. We Christians are so much more equipped for looking up than looking down.
Maybe this is just as well, Christ himself is the one we are trying to imitate after all. He washes feet, the perfect and sinless asks John for Baptism. The same John who in today’s Gospel points and says “that’s Him,”
But if we never allow Our feet to be washed, never give others the chance to serve, we rob them of their own chances of imitating Christ. The biggest issue though isn’t others it’s what God himself wants to give us that we turn away. He calls us to be more than servants, He wants us to be a light to the nations. I think it takes as much humility to allow ourselves to be touched in the places that bring us most shame. Or maybe that pretty Lacy veil of humility is covering some of that ugly pride we fight.
“No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends” John 15:15
Oh friends I think we can way over complicate things, and I think when it’s simplIfied we DO know what our master is doing.
He is showing us how to love, how to go to the grottiest, wounded most disgusting parts of those we are called to love and touch them there with His light.
Let our God show you just how to wash feet, but first humbly let Him clean yours, and maybe ask for your hands and head too.