John 13: 1-15
Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus answered, “You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.” Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” Jesus said to him, “One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.” For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, “Not all of you are clean.”
After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.
New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.
Jesus Knows Best
In the story of Jesus washing the disciples' feet, there's a line that implies Jesus came to Peter after he had already washed a few of the disciples’ feet. But Peter says, “You will never wash my feet”, even though Jesus has already started with the others. There's an implication that “Peter knows best.” Pride gets in the way, and Peter wants to be different. Jesus challenges Peter. He says, "Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.” Well, Peter wants the greatest share with Jesus. So, he replies, “Well then, fine wash all of me.” There's that pride again. I know what is best. I will do it best. I will follow you better than everyone else.
How often are we Peter? Can we let Jesus care for us? Not in the ways that we want. But in the way that the Lord knows we need.
—Austin Kleman, SJ, is a Jesuit scholastic of the Midwest Province working as a therapist at Arrupe College of Loyola University Chicago.
Prayer
Perfect Resignation
My God, I do not know what must come to me today.
But I am certain that nothing can happen to me that you have not foreseen, decreed, and ordained from all eternity.
That is sufficient for me.
I adore your impenetrable and eternal designs, to which I submit with all my heart.
I desire, I accept them all, and I unite my sacrifice to that of Jesus Christ, my divine Savior.
I ask in his name and through his infinite merits, patience in my trials, and perfect and entire submission to all that comes to me by your good pleasure.
Amen.
—St. Joseph Pignatelli, SJ