Jn 13:1-15 What I Have Learned

Holy Thursday
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By FR ALFONSE NAZZARO

During supper, fully aware that the Father had put everything into his power and that he had come from God and was returning to God, he rose from supper and took off his outer garments.  He took a towel and tied it around his wait.  Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and dry them with a towel around his wait.

Just a few days ago we read the story of Mary washing the feet of our Lord and drying them with her hair.  Did the Creator of Life learn something from His poor handmaid?  Is He imitating her?  I think so.  And what a beautiful example it is for all of us.

I love to learn about old things, and I learn most old things from young people.  That's right!  Kids are great.  They teach me how to love old and silly things like role playing; playing with water; doing lovely things for no apparent reason; smiling for no apparent reason; answering the phone instead of avoiding it; hugging someone you haven't seen in days - not years; not caring at all what other people think; giving kisses and hugs to people you love; playing hide and seek to lose the game and be found. And, of course, running to the door before the door bell rings.

But I also love to learn new things from old people.  That's right!  The elderly are great.  They teach us to stay calm at all times and to grow old gracefully.  They teach us to keep quiet when others say or do something very embarrassing.  And finally, they convince us that not every crisis means it's the end of the world!

Jesus washed the feet of His disciples.  Jesus will never stop amazing me.  He could, I guess, on the day I stop thinking.  But until then, the Lord reminds me of how young and old He is.

The Lord understood the importance of role playing.  He turned the upper room into a stage.  He took off his outer garments and cast himself as a servant so that He could physically wash the feet of His disciples.  He did this so they would never forget who He wanted them to be:  servants of servants.  His theatre was rudimentary.  His acting was simple.  His gestures were profound.

But was the Lord acting or was He revealing?  After all, He is all-powerful, all-knowing and all-loving, right?  Yes!  But what exactly does it mean to be all these things?  Does it mean having the right to lord over others?  No.  At least, not according to God.

God's glory is the part least understood by man.

+Jesus is child-like.  Yes, He is old, but He has the heart of a child.
+Jesus is Lord.  Yes, He is all-powerful, but His power comes from his humility. 
+Jesus is the King of kings.  Yes, He is our Master, but He does not lord it over us.  Instead, He prefers to be the servant of servants.  +Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega. Sure, He is the beginning and the end, but He is, and wishes to be known as the Omega and the Alpha, for "the last shall be first and the first shall be the last."

The Lord, through His Church, has taught me to love like a child... 

- To appreciate the role of role playing:  What greater role playing is there than to be a Christian; that is, another Christ?
- To play with water:  I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Something so simple and yet so profound.  In fact, the Lord has let my eyes see the importance of baptismal waters and confessional tears. 
- To do lovely things for no apparent reason:  Christ has given us the green light to love for no apparent reason, for this is the true meaning of love - to give and forgive for no apparent reason. 
- To answer the call, and not avoid it: He has called us each by name to follow Him.  Will I avoid Him? 
- To hug and kiss those not seen for days. To mend the rift immediately, and to hug and kiss the Cross on a daily basis. 
- To play hide and seek:  To seek those who are hiding and who desperately want to be found.
- To run to the door:  To keep watch and to run out and hug and kiss the prodigal son before he makes it to the door. 

And live like the elderly.

- To stay calm when betrayed with a kiss. 
- To keep quiet when others say or do something embarrassing, like Pontius Pilate and Herod. 
- To be assured that every crisis is a Cross with Christ is nailed to it.  In other words, I am not alone.

In the washing of the feet, the Savior is revealing himself as a Servant, and showing His disciples how to Save.  As a servant, He is doing what we would never have imagined God doing, and He could care less about it.  

I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.