Our Lord washed the feet of his followers as a model for us for servanthood. And yet few people will go to a Holy Thursday service that offers foot washing along with the Lord’s Supper. Even preachers have told me that don’t feel “comfortable” washing someone’s feet.
Consider the following scripture and tell me, gentle reader: have you ever had your feet washed, and gotten down on your knees and washed another’s feet, in a Holy Thursday church service?
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So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. (John 13: 14-15)
Chances are you haven’t washed someone’s feet in church. Chances are your church doesn’t even offer the opportunity for you to do it in a Holy Thursday church service.
Even many preachers and priests have to me they aren’t “comfortable” with washing someone’s feet and don’t want to make their parishioners uncomfortable.
You probably have no qualms about taking the Lord’s Supper, and may even do it every week or every month. You may even look forward to it.
Like baptism, the Lord’s Supper makes Jesus real to us. Most of us find it likable and meaningful. Even if we just go through the motions of it without much intention, taking communion feels holy. It feels sacred.
But if getting on our knees and washing the feet of another doesn’t make Christ Jesus real — if that’s not something that feels holy — I don’t know what does.
If you’ve never done the foot washing thing, why not? What’s the excuse? You have ugly feet? It’s just not necessary?
Or is it that such a humbling — and extremely intimate act — in front of other people, no less, makes us feel uncomfortable?
I know that foot washing is not a church sacrament. The church doesn’t take it to be a necessity.
But it seems to me that when Jesus set the example for his followers then, he was setting the example for followers for all times.
As far as it being a discomfort, I’ve actually known people who don’t go to church because they say the pews are uncomfortable!
Other popes washed the feet of other clergy in their robes or seminarians. He has caused outrage by washing the feet of all kinds of people who are not very nice people.
Which is sort of Christlike.
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