Your donation is tax deductible.
Spring Pedicure
A reflection by Father Michael Denk, based on a Holy Thursday homily given on April 9, 2009 at St. Barnabas Church.
Take off your shoes.
Really, if you are reading this bend down and take them off.
Ok, now your socks.
Ok, on the count of three show your piggy’s~! Not just the kids, everyone. Don’t worry if you haven’t had your pedicure yet, your neighbor probably has worse feet than you. If you’re reading this at home, I hope no one walks into your room and sees you staring at your feet.
Ok, this is in two parts--one for each foot and it must be read while barefoot:
Mother Teresa's Foot
Part one:
Jesus answered him, "Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me."
Why does Jesus say this to Peter? We will enter into the kingdom barefoot. We have to be vulnerable. We have to take off or shoes, let him see all of our ugliness, and wash us clean. This was done for us in our baptism, we do it in the sacrament of confession and this leads us ultimately to the Eucharist where we are washed and bathed in His Precious Blood.
Sometimes when we are feeling sinful it may be awkward or uncomfortable to go to church, to call a friend, we may want to isolate ourselves, but we must allow ourselves to be vulnerable.
Jesus gave us families in which to be vulnerable, to show everything to and still be accepted. That’s why it is so essential that you become an active participating member in family, church, community, the human race! It is through people that we are vulnerable, that we are loved, that we will have our feet washed by Jesus.
It may be a little awkward at first, it may be downright scary; but the Lord says to us, "unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me".
We have to make ourselves vulnerable to God, ugly feet and all. We also have to make ourselves vulnerable to others. All of these committees and commitments, organizations and order to our lives are there to help us to become vulnerable to each other, to let down our guard, and to experience acceptance. Friendship is born out of vulnerability.
Part two:
Humility: "If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, 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."
Jesus shows us the ultimate act of humility. He has done everything He can to love us; washed us, cleaned us, fed us, died for us, He loved us even to the end.
So the second part is to go out to your families, your work, your friends and humble yourself before them. Serve them. Do something for someone that you normally wouldn’t do, something that they normally have to do for you. Husbands, help your wives cook dinner.
Wives, clean out the garage or take the car in for your husband. Help one another. When you go to work humble yourselves and do something for the guy lower on the totem pole.
Our humility can help others to be vulnerable. And as we come together as a family, at work, in our communities, before strangers, may we come forward humbly bowing our heads before our Lord.
Let him wash your feet today. Let yourself be vulnerable to the members of His body. It is here that you will find life.
Take off your shoes.
Really, if you are reading this bend down and take them off.
Ok, now your socks.
Ok, on the count of three show your piggy’s~! Not just the kids, everyone. Don’t worry if you haven’t had your pedicure yet, your neighbor probably has worse feet than you. If you’re reading this at home, I hope no one walks into your room and sees you staring at your feet.
Ok, this is in two parts--one for each foot and it must be read while barefoot:
Mother Teresa's Foot
Jesus answered him, "Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me."
Why does Jesus say this to Peter? We will enter into the kingdom barefoot. We have to be vulnerable. We have to take off or shoes, let him see all of our ugliness, and wash us clean. This was done for us in our baptism, we do it in the sacrament of confession and this leads us ultimately to the Eucharist where we are washed and bathed in His Precious Blood.
Sometimes when we are feeling sinful it may be awkward or uncomfortable to go to church, to call a friend, we may want to isolate ourselves, but we must allow ourselves to be vulnerable.
Jesus gave us families in which to be vulnerable, to show everything to and still be accepted. That’s why it is so essential that you become an active participating member in family, church, community, the human race! It is through people that we are vulnerable, that we are loved, that we will have our feet washed by Jesus.
It may be a little awkward at first, it may be downright scary; but the Lord says to us, "unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me".
We have to make ourselves vulnerable to God, ugly feet and all. We also have to make ourselves vulnerable to others. All of these committees and commitments, organizations and order to our lives are there to help us to become vulnerable to each other, to let down our guard, and to experience acceptance. Friendship is born out of vulnerability.
Part two:
Humility: "If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, 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."
Jesus shows us the ultimate act of humility. He has done everything He can to love us; washed us, cleaned us, fed us, died for us, He loved us even to the end.
So the second part is to go out to your families, your work, your friends and humble yourself before them. Serve them. Do something for someone that you normally wouldn’t do, something that they normally have to do for you. Husbands, help your wives cook dinner.
Our humility can help others to be vulnerable. And as we come together as a family, at work, in our communities, before strangers, may we come forward humbly bowing our heads before our Lord.
Comments