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Holy Thursday is coming up this week, where people squirm at the thought of touching someone else’s feet, or someone else touching their own feet.
Growing up at our parish, it was open season – anyone could get in line to have their feet washed and then in turn wash the next person’s feet. I always went before one of my parents so I could wash their feet – not because I wanted to serve them, but because I didn’t want to touch someone else’s dirty feet. As I got older, I didn’t care who was behind me, I was ready. I started to really love this tradition – the beauty, the humility, the example of service and Christ.
And then some people in charge decided to change it to the parish priests and staff only washing twelve parishioners’ feet. I was quite upset. I thought it took away from the meaning behind it. I wasn’t going to let this go, so I put my foot down. But they still won’t wash it.
Anyways, in the Gospel, Peter tells Jesus He isn’t washing his feet. Jesus’ response makes Peter flip faster than a flapjack on fire (no, I don’t normally call pancakes flapjacks, but the alliteration!).
Jesus tells Peter he “will have no inheritance with Me.”
Just for not getting his feet washed? Seems extreme, doesn’t it?
Our society – and this includes many of us who call ourselves Catholic – portrays Jesus as someone who won’t make you sweat the small stuff that most people don’t think are sins today. But if Jesus is telling the future pope he needs to get over whatever he thinks is enough to follow Jesus, then I think we need to do that as well.
Too often we make excuses for the teachings of the Church that we don’t want to follow. We are ignorant in thinking that Jesus will forgive us no matter what, and that we can get away with the sins we see as less important. We are arrogant in thinking that if Jesus won’t forgive us for sins we chose not to try to avoid, then He’s not as loving as He claims.
It’s not that Jesus expects us to be perfect. But we do have to try. Yoda was wrong y’all. When we refuse to try because we think we are right and the Church/Jesus is wrong, that’s when it’s dangerous.
As we approach the Holy Triduum, we need to allow Jesus to wash us – not just our feet, but our souls. There are parts of us that we keep dirty – that we don’t allow to be cleansed. If we aren’t willing to let Jesus into those areas and get to work, we will remain dirty. Let Him in. Let Him wash you, so that you may have a part in His inheritance.
