Virtue: Humility
Resolution: I choose to honor others above self.

Human Story: Pope Francis (1936 - )

Shortly after Francis became pope in 2013, he washed the feet of Muslims. The Pope turned heads and profoundly broke with a papal Holy Week tradition of celebrating the evening Mass at a Rome basilica. Instead, he ventured out of the Vatican to the Casa del Marmo Young Offenders Institute in Rome for the Holy Thursday Mass. The male and female detainees, ranging in age from 14-21, are mostly immigrants from a wide range of religious backgrounds. The detainees led the Scripture readings and the prayers of the faithful, while prison volunteers provided music for the service. Staff members of the facility also attended the mass.

The Pope demonstrated the importance of washing another’s feet. According to Pope Francis, this service shows that “the person who is most high among us must be at the service of the others. We have to help one another, each one. To wash your feet, this is a symbol, a sign that I am at your service,” the Pope said. “But it also means that we have to help each other.” He added that he would wash their feet with love. “It’s a duty that comes from my heart because I love doing this, because this is what the Lord taught me. This sign is a caress from Jesus, because Jesus came exactly for this, to serve and to help us.”

He expressed Christ’s love for everyone in attendance while he was washing the feet of 12 young detainees. These 12 were of different nationalities and faiths, including at least two Muslims, and two young women. The 76-year-old Pope Francis knelt on both knees before the youth, washed, dried and then kissed their feet. The ritual was extremely moving. Many of the young people had tears streaming down their faces. The Pope was warm and exuded happiness while he was celebrating Mass at the prison. 

While the prison Mass marked a first for the modern papacy, the practice was nothing new to Pope Francis, who as Archbishop of Buenos Aires used to celebrate the Mass of the Lord’s Supper in prisons, hospitals, and shelters for the poor. This act reflects on the call to imitate Christ by serving one another, and it commemorates Jesus’ gift of the Eucharist, worthy to be shared with the marginalized.

Lesson: John 13:1-17 (NIV)

It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?" Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand." "No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet." Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me." "Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!" Jesus answered, "Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you." For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not everyone was clean. When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. "You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”

So begins Jesus’ final night and last words to his disciples. He is preparing them for his coming death. The setting is the Passover festival, one of the major annual Jewish celebrations which had been going on for well over 1,000 years.

We read the story of washing feet and it sounds kind of strange to us. In ancient societies, it was as familiar as having a server at a restaurant. It was the job of a common servant. Ancient societies were also honor-shame cultures. The goal of life was to continually try to gain more honor. Jesus was a “rabbi” (teacher) to a group of others. A rabbi was a position of honor. It would have been unheard of for a rabbi to take on the role of a common servant and wash the feet of his students, for this would bring great shame upon him doing something that was beneath him. This is one of many examples of Jesus taking what society values and turning it upside down.

Ponder this: A superior stooping down to wash the feet of his inferiors. Jesus uses this as a symbol for his life purpose: to reveal God’s nature as a being of self-giving love. Jesus uses this action to give his disciples a command: follow my example. In other words, love one another as I have loved you. As our monthly resolution states, honor others above self. Make yourself the least important person in the room. It is important to note here that Jesus says this to his disciples. He is appealing for unity and love amongst Christians. While we are to love everyone and strive to live in peace with all, Jesus wants us to focus on “one another.” The hallmark of Jesus’ followers is radical acts of service and love towards each other. This is how “outsiders” will know we have the truth. Some today, like Pope Francis, still do the actual act of foot washing in imitation of Jesus as a symbol. This can be a powerful practice that helps a humble posture sink into our bones. As we go through our days we need to continually find new ways to make ourselves a servant, for Jesus tells us doing these acts results in blessing.

Remembrance

Listen along as you meditate on the words.

O come, O come Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appears

O come, thou Wisdom from on high
Who orderest all things mightily
To us the path of knowledge show
And teach us in her ways to go

O come, thou Dayspring, come and cheer
Our spirits by thine advent here
And drive away the shades of night
And death's dark shadow put to flight

Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel

Challenge

Make one counter-cultural decision this week. Be inspired by Wendell Barry's poem "Manifesto: Mad Farmer Liberation Front," particularly the last stanza:

"As soon as the generals and the politicos
can predict the motions of your mind,
lose it. Leave it as a sign
to mark the false trail, the way
you didn’t go. Be like the fox
who makes more tracks than necessary,
some in the wrong direction.
Practice resurrection."  

Carve out time to serve or bless your neighbor or volunteer with a local organization who assists people in need.  For inspiration, visit: www.unitedwayocoee.org/funded-partners.

Reflection

Washing one another’s feet is not an everyday ritual, but picture yourself seated before a friend, loved one, or even a stranger ready to wash his or her feet. What would this practice require of you? Are there ways to serve or honor people in the way washing their feet would? Ponder Pope Francis’ question to the detainees: “Am I really willing to help others?”

As you reflect on this season of Advent and the coming of Jesus, do you find yourself hopeful for something? What does His common entry into the world, despite having the rights of a king, mean for you and your life?

Further Growth

2021: First Sunday of Christmas

Old Testament: Isaiah 61:10 — 62:5
Psalm: 147:12-20
New Testament: Galatians 3:23 — 4:7
Gospel: John 1:1-18

2020: First Sunday of Christmas

Old Testament: Isaiah 61:10 — 62:5
Psalm: 147:12-20
New Testament: Galatians 3:23 — 4:7
Gospel: John 1:1-18