The associated reading for this reflection can be found in your Every Sacred Sunday Mass journal or online here.
Jesus offers a master class in servant leadership in today’s Gospel.
The night before the King of Kings is to die a criminal's death for the salvation of mankind, He gives his disciples a much simpler example of sacrificial love—one that we can all learn from and adopt.
It's easy for our 21st century sensibilities to make us forget the reality of why footwashing was such an important custom in Biblical times. Sandaled feet were the cars of their day. They racked up mileage on unforgiving dirt paths, suffering injuries and sores, getting muddy in the rain, stinking from sweat.
The apostles didn't take off their shoes and socks for a pedicure; they presented their gnarled and weary feet to the Lord, who humbled himself in the posture of a servant to make them clean.
Whose feet need washing in your life? Where can you heal the wounds and wipe away the dirt as a parent, a spouse, a friend, or a coworker?
Service can be simple. Volunteering for the task that no one else wants. Paying for the order of the person behind you in line. Putting someone else's comfort ahead of your own. If you make small acts of selfless kindness a habit, pretty soon you'll just be a kinder, humbler person.
For more ideas, try praying the Litany of Humility and see what stirs in your heart. That is a difficult, convicting prayer that always leaves me thinking of this quote attributed to C.S. Lewis: "True humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less."
But Peter shows us that it also takes humility to be served by others. It's hard to present our dirty feet—our needs, our weaknesses, our brokenness—to someone else. It takes vulnerability, trust, and the overcoming of shame.
Depending on our season of life, we will find ourselves as either Peter or Jesus. When you are in a position to serve, do so without counting the cost. When you need help, accept the kindness without feelings of fear or a need to repay.
Everyone has dirty feet. God gave you a washcloth. Time to get to work.
Lord, grant us the grace to follow your example of quiet service. May we have the courage to serve those around us and the humility to let others serve us when we need it.
Matt Paolelli is a writer and marketing professional who lives outside of Chicago with his wife and four young children. He loves playing board games, taking family bike rides, and trying to learn the guitar. Read more of his writing in his Amusing Catholic newsletter.
