Saturday: Washing Feet and Washing Hands

Saturday provides a silence between the drama of Good Friday and the miracle of Easter. No doubt, the disciples spent the day trying to make sense of all that had happened. We, too, have an opportunity to take a moment and reflect. Fortunately, I am blessed to have a men’s group that meets of Fridays, and we explored Holy week in eye-opening, or should I say heart-opening ways.

Specifically, we spoke of the washing of feet. The story of Jesus washing the disciples’ feet is familiar to us all, but one of our members said words that caught us all off guard: “Jesus washed Judas’ feet too.”

I had never thought about that. What an amazing moment it must have been for Judas, knowing what he knew. What a powerful moment it must have been for Jesus, knowing what he knew. And yet the washing still happened. It says God’s grace and love are extended to us all. No exceptions. The Peters as well as the Judas’s, and all of us in between.

Could you imagine if we lived our lives in the same way? What would it look like if we washed everyone’s feet? No exceptions. Harder still, could you imagine a church that washed everyone’s feet? Not just their members, but every person regardless of who they are and what they have done.

Instead, we are better at washing our hands, like Pilate. Better to keep things neat and tidy, better not to create a stir. Let’s just surround ourselves with the ones who are easy to love and let God take care of the rest.

I recently read of a Bishop who was involved in a tragic accident in which she killed a pedestrian while driving drunk. It is an awful thing, one that will bring with it many consequences, but it begs the question: what will the Church do? Will it wash her feet or wash its hands? My experience is that the Church, like you and I, are much better at washing our hands than washing feet. Maybe reflecting on that fact this Saturday will help us see what Jesus chose to do and cause us to do the same.