Reflection on Jn 13:14-15

I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet …

I have set you an example.

At the Last Supper, Jesus gave the apostles an example of deep humility. He did not act as one who is to be served, but as one who himself serves. He washed the apostles’ feet. This was a task performed by slaves. We know how much this shocked the apostles. The apostle Peter, in particular, resisted strongly. In the end, however, he obeyed.

Jesus says: “Learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart.” It is also possible, from time to time in small communities – perhaps once a year, to make such a gesture, where brothers wash one another’s feet. Some non-Catholics even practise this more often. Washing another brother’s feet, and also allowing one’s own feet to be washed, is a gesture of humility, especially when a person does it sincerely, with awareness of their own guilt, which they may not have recognized for a long time.

When asked who can actually be saved, Saint Anthony the Hermit answered emphatically: “Only the humble.” That means those who have dethroned their self-confident ego and made Jesus the king of their soul instead. This is the essence of salvation. We should humble ourselves especially in situations when someone tells us the truth to our face. Our initial reaction is usually anger and a desire to defend ourselves, or to argue that they are wrong… But we need to stop and say: ‘Brother, I don’t understand now, but I believe I’ll come to understand that there is some truth in your words.’ Then we should ask the Lord to enlighten us. The height of humility is to thank the brother as well, perhaps later: ‘So far I have come to understand this truth. Thank you for pointing out the bad habit and fault that I have repeated for years and that has already become part of my nature, so I no longer even saw it.’

During Christ’s last time with the disciples before His death, He demonstrated several things about a serving attitude. Read Luke 22:24-27.

a) What were the disciples arguing about? Verse 24

b) How did Jesus demonstrate His humility? Verse 27

c) How should Christ’s followers conduct themselves? Verse 26

d) How is this contrary to the way the “world” operates? Verse 25

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