Session 5: The Feet

I reach towards my inner self… inner walls begin to crumble… the depth of my being opens…

I begin by setting the scene of today’s reflection in my mind…

A towel tied firmly round his waist, cold water poured into a bowl, his bended knee on cold stone floor, he washed their feet with tenderness, saying: ‘wash one another’s feet’, the one from God returns like this…

Ask for the grace to know how to wash the feet of others…or whatever it is that you need at this moment…

John 13:1-15

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 it 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.

As Jesus washes his disciples' feet, let yourself be drawn into the movements and gestures he makes, tenderly approaching each one of those present, holding their feet, bathing them with water and drying them with his towel…does he want to wash your feet too…? Will you turn away like Peter…? Or will you let him kneel by your side to perform this tender gesture…?

As you listen again, think about the people in your life whose feet you are called to wash, and how you might follow the example of Jesus…

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.

Speak to Jesus, as one friend speaks to another, talk to him about whose feet you need to wash and ask him how you are to wash them, then listen to his response…

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit…

As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.