Kneeling in Love: A Call to Intimate Discipleship
“For the Souls in Purgatory – Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord”
Jn 13:1-17
Before the feast of Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to pass from this world to the Father. He loved his own in the world and he loved them to the end. The devil had already put it into the mind of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to hand him over. Jesus knew that the Father had given everything into his hands and that he had come from God and was returning to God. So he got up from supper, took off his outer garments, and tied a towel around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and dry them with the towel around which was wrapped. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Master, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing, you do not understand now, but you will understand later.” Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me.” Simon Peter said to him, “Master, then not only my feet but my hands and head as well.” Jesus said to him, “Whoever has bathed has no need to wash, except for his feet, for he is clean all over; and you are clean, but not all.” For he knew who would hand him over; for this reason, he said, “Not all of you are clean.”
So when he had washed their feet and put his garments back on and reclined at table again, he said to them, “Do you realize what I have done for you? You call me ‘teacher’ and ‘master,’ and rightly so, for indeed I am. If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do. Amen, amen, I say to you, no slave is greater than his master nor any messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you understand this, blessed are you if you do it.”
Grace Prayed For
This scripture prompts us to pray for the grace of humility to allow Jesus to serve and cleanse us, even in our resistance. We should also pray for the grace of a servant’s heart to be able to share that same humble, selfless love with everyone we meet.
Reflection
In this powerful passage, Jesus reveals the heart of what it means to be His intimate disciple. He doesn’t just teach about love; He embodies it. As the ultimate Master, He kneels before His disciples, performing the most menial task of a servant: washing their feet. This act wasn’t just a physical cleansing; it was an act of profound spiritual intimacy. He’s saying to me, to you, “I know you completely, with all your dirt and imperfections, and I still love you, want to serve you, and desire to be in a close relationship with you.”
When Peter resists, saying, “You will never wash my feet,” he’s resisting a vulnerability and an intimacy he doesn’t yet understand. Jesus’ response, “Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me,” is not a threat. It’s an invitation to surrender. It’s a truth that says, “To be truly mine, you must let me love you in your brokenness.” Jesus’ love isn’t just a feeling; it’s a cleansing, a purification that makes us whole. For me, this resonates deeply. I’ve often felt unworthy of His love, but this passage reminds me that His love is a gift I can’t earn—I can only receive it. He lovingly washes away the dust of my daily struggles, my failures, and my anxieties.
By allowing Jesus to serve me, I am then empowered to serve others. He gives us the mandate to do what He has done. This isn’t just about washing feet; it’s about a radical shift in perspective. It’s about seeing every person as someone Jesus would kneel before and serve. This intimacy with Christ isn’t for our private enjoyment alone; it is a fire meant to be shared. When I embrace this truth, every encounter—whether with a family member, a colleague, or a stranger—becomes an opportunity to live out my discipleship, to offer a piece of that same humble love I’ve received. My mission, my baptismal calling, is to partner with Jesus in restoring God’s creation by living a life of humble service, a life of being washed by His love and then pouring that love out for others.
Announcing Jesus in Our Lives
Evangelizing in Daily Life
We can evangelize in our day-to-day lives by living out the Gospel message of humble service and love. This doesn’t always require words; our actions often speak louder. We can:
- Listen genuinely to others with our full attention, making them feel seen and valued, just as Jesus saw and valued His disciples.
- Offer help to someone who is struggling, whether it’s a neighbor with groceries or a coworker with a difficult task.
- Forgive others freely, just as Jesus forgives us.
- Show kindness to strangers with a simple smile, a polite word, or a patient attitude in a moment of frustration.
- Serve without expecting anything in return, mirroring Jesus’ selfless love. For instance, I can make dinner for a sick friend, volunteer at a local shelter, or simply offer a listening ear to someone who needs to talk.
By acting as a partner with Jesus in these small, daily ways, we are participating in His mission to restore all of creation. We become the hands and feet of Christ in the world, sharing His intimate love with every person we encounter.
When Time Allows Reflect on the Posts in Library and Musings
Sharing
Jesus last words on Earth were to his disciples, can be found in Matthew Chap 28 when Jesus told his disciples, “Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”
Jesus calls all of us to share in his redemptive mission here on Earth. I would ask you to share this Scripture reflection with your family, your friends and your acquaintances, and then share it with a couple of individuals that you may may not be comfortable sharing with, keeping in mind always the words of Jesus, And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age
Author was assisted by AI in the drafting of this Post