In Luke’s account of the events of this Thursday evening, Jesus says: I have longed to share this meal with you. (Lk 22:15)
What Jesus says to his disciples he says to all of us. And so we share that meal, the last meal of his life, with him. We do that every time we share in the Eucharist. We are present with Jesus, we are eating and drinking with him at his last meal, every Sunday, or even more often if we wish.
This is an awesome reality.
John loads it with even more impact. We are not just sharing a meal, the most basic form of shared experience we have as human beings, we are sharing a posture of total service. We kneel and share the most intimate experience of washing each other, of washing feet, beautiful feet or ugly feet, smelly feet or clean feet, feet that are our foundation in the world, our way of moving in the world.
”… you ought to wash one another’s feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.”
I suspect we usually feel uncomfortable washing someone else, or being washed. Peter certainly did. Parents and their young children find it natural and joyful. Carers become accustomed to it and maybe find joy in it. Most of us struggle with the idea, and certainly the reality, even in the ritual setting of our Easter service.
Experiences as basic as eating and washing are hard to intellectualize. Of course we can talk about the symbolism of sharing a meal or acts of service. But Jesus didn’t leave us with symbols and ideas and concepts. He left us with simple, basic, practical actions. He told us to do stuff – to eat in memory of him, to wash others as he did.
Sometimes we may find it easy to do the things he told us to, other times not so much. But as he did, so must we do. He didn’t give us any choice. That is the price of our inheritance. When we feel squeamish, about the feet, or anything else, it may help if we remind ourselves of that.