Let's keep washing those feet!

OVER the last few weeks I have been spending some time reflecting on the Easter story.

I think if we know a story well there is a danger that we can become somewhat complacent about it and ‘think we know it all’.

However there is always more to understand and help us in our daily lives.

In particular I have been thinking about the incident on Maundy Thursday when Jesus, the night before he was crucified, had supper with his friends and washed their feet.

Feet – such a vital part of the human body.

One of my favourite pastimes is putting on my faithful wellies and walking miles across the fields.

I love noticing the changing seasons, listening to the birdsong and of course being aware of my feet taking every step. I find it a really helpful way to think things through and without my faithful feet I would not be able to do so.

So why did Jesus, the night before he was killed, decide to wash the feet of his friends?

We may think it was a very strange thing to do. We need to remember in those days, and in that part of the world, there were no wellies, socks or shoes – at best feet where a little protected by rustic sandals but would get very dirty, sweaty and smelly daily.

So the washing of feet was considered a very unpleasant, menial task. And yet this is what Jesus chooses to do – to get down on his knees and wash and tenderly dry those smelly feet.

What an amazing act of servanthood and love.

Just for a moment imagine you are one of those friends having your feet lovingly washed. Not only must it have felt refreshing, after a long day on foot, but the overwhelming sense of love must have been almost tangible.

So what does this mean to us today in our very troubled world?

We should be prepared to serve others in extravagant acts of love done tenderly.

In John’s gospel Jesus says "I have just washed your feet, you then should wash one another’s feet".

We are called to reach out to those around us, both near and far, and ‘metaphorically’ wash their feet, through acts of kindness and generosity.

We need to put the needs of others before our own.

But the other important part of this story today is that we need to allow others to ‘wash our feet’. Not literally, but

Jo Strange Licensed lay minister, Fromeside Benefice

some of us find it quite hard to receive acts of kindness and care from others, as Peter in the story tried to stop Jesus from washing his feet.

And yet we need to accept these acts of love and kindness as well - even those of us who do not feel we deserve it.

So my friends let us renew our commitment to serve those around us - let’s keep washing those feet!