The Example and Commandment to live in HUMBLE SERVICE

In the Upper Room, on the night before he was to offer up his life for us, Christ “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.”[1] Every year in the celebration of the Easter Triduum, we repeat this profound gesture at the Mass of the Last Supper. Giving himself to the very end for the world’s salvation, “having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end,”[2] Jesus likewise left us the example of his boundless charity and humility. Ever since, foot-washing has come to represent something very important for the followers of Christ. The rite is often referred to as part of the mandatum (commandment), from Jesus’ words during the meal, which we read in John 13:14; in Latin: Mandátum novum do vobis dicit Dóminus, ut diligátis ínvicem, sicut diléxi vos - “I give you a new commandment: Love one another as I have loved you.” This is why Holy Thursday is also known as “Maundy Thursday,” the word maundy coming from the Latin word mandatum. And these are the words spoken by our Lord to his apostles at the Last Supper, after he completed the washing of the feet.

As a disciple of the Lord Jesus, it is imperative that we take stock of this outstanding example of brotherly love, of humble, loving service for Jesus, with Jesus and in Jesus. The historical and cultural context of the time, ancient Palestine, relates that only slaves washed another’s feet. It was truly an extremely unpleasant and humiliating task since, as people wore sandals or went barefoot, they walked along dusty and grimy roads shared by herdsmen and their animals. We can imagine the extreme dirt and filth of the unpaved byways. By willingly washing his apostles' feet, God Incarnate lowered himself to the status of a slave and asks us to do the same out of love and honour for him, and as a witness that we belong to him. For Christ, love takes on a very concrete and even crude physicality; for him, love is not a fuzzy feeling we get from time to time; it is not a philosophical ideal. For the Son of God, it is a tangible even earthy expression of the gift of self - this self-giving is real, graphic and costly.

We can appreciate how humble the Lord of lords and King of kings was in accomplishing such an act of servility, but also with what great and unconditional charity he showed us the way to serve. He left us the example: a challenging call to humble service mandated by virtue of our baptism and life in him. For us it means to lay down our lives in service to others and even more, to see our very life in terms of service and nothing else. What Christ is saying in this gesture is that we need to love in and through our service to our sisters and brothers and not in any other way. Love and service go hand in hand in Jesus’ understanding and in that of the Church as well. We twin the action with the virtue, humble service and Christian charity; loving the Lord by serving others. One cannot exist without the other.  

In addition, we see in Christ’s prophetic and sublime teaching, the distinguishing characteristic of the Christian life and lifestyle which is fundamentally that of self-sacrificing/oblative love since it was the distinguishing characteristic of Christ himself. The world will come to know that we are his disciples by our love for one another.

Anecdotal Illustration

Mother Teresa (St. Teresa of Calcutta) spent her entire life in this humble service to the poorest of the poor. Coupled with an intense prayer life and contemplative spirituality, she and her Missionaries of Charity also spent hours on end tending to the sick, the poor, the outcast, the rejected, the dying. She would say that each morning, at the celebration of holy Mass, Jesus came to her and to her sisters in communion; then, for the rest of the day, she would go to care for Jesus present in the needy, the helpless, the forgotten. This was a life organized and spent through the lens of service embodying Christ’s own words: “The Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”[3]

Consider how the priest, during the celebration of the Most Sacred Mysteries, touches the sacred Host reverently, attentively, lovingly, delicately, carefully, devoutly. In those same ways we are to reach out and touch the bodies and spirits of the poor, the needy and the sick, in humble service and honouring the memory of the Lord Jesus. The Eucharist we celebrate and the Eucharistic Body of Christ we receive, propels us to loving, active and humble service to the Mystical Body of Christ and to the world.

Questions to Ponder

Do I see my life in terms of service? What emotion does feet-washing stir up inside of me? Can I name some instances where I can symbolically wash someone’s feet as Christ did? Is there a sick person I can visit? Is there a young person I can encourage? Is there a food bank to which I can contribute? Do I know of a perpetual adoration chapel I can visit and where I can pray for the many needs of our wounded humanity? Can I reach out to a fallen-away Catholic and invite him/her back? Is there a homeless person I can feed? Are there elderly persons I can visit and care for? Can I name the needs, poverties, addictions, vices, struggles, and challenges in my neighborhood and community? Is there a pro-life group I can join? Is there a volunteer program or ministry in my parish which I can join?^[4] Is there a person suffering from mental illness or loneliness to whom I can reach out and for whom I can make a difference? Who can benefit from my time, my treasure and talents? Who needs to be forgiven?  How am I using my gifts for others and for Jesus? How am I a gift for others? Am I too proud to lower myself in humble service? How much of my day or week is dedicated to service for others?

[1] John 13:4-5

[2] John 13: 1

[3] Matthew 20:28

[4] CCC, 910