When Jesus had washed the disciples’ feet, he said to them:
“Amen, amen, I say to you, no slave is greater than his master
nor any messenger greater than the one who sent him.
So much of what Jesus did had the potential to short-circuit the pride of those who saw it. Some individuals who saw these acts had their own hearts hardened. Others were willing to accept the call to humility contained therein. Jesus lived in such a way that his Father was first in his life and the lowest and least of the people around him had the greatest claim on his acts of mercy and compassion. Such actions chafed at those who desired to themselves be first. The prideful did not delight to see the healings of those whom they did not consider deserving. The elite were distressed that the unwashed masses were welcomed as disciples on equal footing with the others.
Jesus came to demonstrate the humility and self-giving that characterized his life with the Father and the Spirit from all eternity. He did not come to raise up deserving in an isolated state of self-congratulation and exultation over others. This was perhaps what men experiencing the freedom of having their own feet washed. But it was not the deepest truth of things. Being served, being master, having power seemed to promise we could be happy in finally being able to meet all of our desires. But Jesus knew this was false. He came to show us a better way, a way which we would not have found on our own.
If you understand this, blessed are you if you do it.
I am not speaking of all of you.
The washing of the disciples feet by Jesus was an obvious symbol, but the same truth characterized his saving death for humankind. The same truth is revealed to us everytime we receive him under the humble appearances of bread and wine.
Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send
receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”
Receiving Jesus means receiving him not only in his exaltation but also in especially in his humility. He is not a God after our own image, which would have doubtlessly been more of an invincible superman who never suffered. We receive a servant to be our master. This truth helps us to also receive those he sent in spite of their human foibles. Even though the hierarchy of the Church is often flawed we are called to receive them as well, even if they are not living as washers of feet, not for their own sake, but because of the one whom they represent.
We won't solve the problem of the lack of humility in others by our own skill and effort. It is only by becoming like the master in his self-emptying that we will be able to truly connect with others and have something to offer them. When we realize the deep truth of humility that is the very heart of reality, when we lose the need to protect and provide for all the demands of our selfish egos, it is then that we will become really communicate the truth of Jesus to others.
Behold, one is coming after me;
I am not worthy to unfasten the sandals of his feet.
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