Serving Others

Tonight the lectionary Gospel is drawn from John.  It tells the story of the Last Supper and unlike the Synoptics, communion is not the center of the story.  Rather, there is a story about foot washing.  Jesus tended to the feet of his followers and Peter, God bless him, freaked out.  "You can't do this!" he cried.  Jesus told him he must and that if the disciples were truly his followers, they would do likewise.  Peter then proceeds to go overboard in changing his mind and says that foot washing isn't enough; he wants to bathe the entire body.  He misses the point, and so, too often, do we.

We don't wear sandals or walk dusty roads.   The whole idea of foot washing is alien and seems a little weird.  Some churches will perform ritual foot washings tonight and some parishioners will be freaked out.  Frankly, there's something personal about our feet and many don't like bearing them to others.  Okay.  But rather than focus on an odd and ancient practice, perhaps we can focus on Jesus' lesson about sacrificial service, of extending oneself to help and be helped.  That shouldn't be hard but it is.  We have our pride, our fears, our phobias -- and these are sins.  It's still Lent, and we still have time to repent.

Tonight, let us reflect on Jesus' service and how we might emulate him, this day and forevermore.

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