Quiet minds and hearts

Unless I wash you … (John 13:8)

What an astounding image the Lord gave his disciples—and us—of his love! The King of kings bends over us and humbly washes our feet. Such care and concern he shows for us, his people! This is the very nature of Jesus’ love for us: it is so intense that it moved him to lower himself to take on the position of a servant for our sakes.

“You will never wash my feet” (John 13:8). How many times have we echoed Peter’s words and tried to keep Jesus from ministering to us? Maybe we have thought we don’t deserve such love. Or maybe we have thought we don’t need to be washed clean. But to each of us, Jesus says, “Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me.” Unless we let him cleanse us and care for us, we will end up separated from him.

Jesus wants to wash us, both in Baptism and in our everyday lives. He wants to help us and refresh us. Accepting that offer means quieting our hearts and minds so that we can recall his love and feel his presence. Of course we have duties and obligations that we must accomplish every day, but if we let our duties take precedence over Jesus, we will miss out on all that he can do for us.

Today, we enter into the Easter Triduum, the great three-day celebration of our redemption. By spending extra time with the Lord at the various liturgies this weekend, we can give him the opportunity to wash our feet again. We can give him permission to move more freely in our hearts. And whenever we do that, we are changed a little bit more into his image. We are filled a little bit more with his love and power. We become his servants in the world, washing the feet of those around us.

“Jesus, during these next few days, help me to come into your presence and let you wash my feet. I don’t want my busyness to get the better of me. Instead, I want more of you. Help me to surrender the pride that won’t let you minister to me. Come, Lord, and fill me with your love.”

from wau.org