Home > Lenten Blog 2022

If we can love with this sense of humility, openness, and tenderness, what a world we might help to create!

April 14, 2022

Exodus 12:1-4, (5-10), 11-14  |  1 Corinthians 11:23-26 |  John 13:1-17, 31b-35 |  Psalm 116:1, 10-17

Wow, what a rich day of readings! From the story of the first Passover, evoking images of Charlton Heston as Moses from my childhood Easter viewing of The Ten Commandments, to the reassuring words of the Psalm reminding me that God “has inclined his ear to me whenever I called upon him,” to the origins of our eucharistic covenant, there was much to choose from. But my heart landed on the story of Jesus washing the feet of the disciples. Other than my children’s feet, I had never washed someone else’s feet until I met Tim, who introduced me to his favorite celebration of the year, Maundy Thursday. And I’ll admit, that first year I thought, “Ew! I’m not letting someone else wash my feet! Or wash theirs!” But the second year, I mustered up the courage and participated in this ritual.

I have to say, it is one of the more intimate acts I’ve experienced. I’m not sure what it is about feet in particular, but the trust it takes to allow this process is profound. And it’s that sense of trust, that intimacy, that simple act of servitude that Jesus sums up when he says, “Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.” It is the underpinning of his commandment for us to love one another. If we can love with this sense of humility, openness, and tenderness, what a world we might help to create!

I know tonight I’ll be shedding my socks and shoes; I hope you’ll give me the honor of doing the same so that I might share in Jesus’ example with you.

Diane Rich