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| Christ Washing the Feet of the Apostlesby Meister des Hausbuches, 1475 (Gemäldegalerie, Berlin). |
The Thursday prior to Easter commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus Christ detailed in the Christian Bible. A ceremony devoted to the washing of the feet is traditional in many Christian Churches. This practice is a beautiful one that invites all participants to be both the servant and the served. The act of feet washing allows the washer to feel humility & submission while being of service to others while at the same time honors the person whose feet are being washed.
In ancient civilizations, where sandals were the primary footwear, walking could be dusty business. In order to honor guests, good hosts would provide water for feet washing and often a servant to clean the feet. To show respect and honor the guest, a host might choose to do the washing themselves. It appears that this custom was the root of the Biblical passage in the Gospel of John 13: 1-15 that many churches base this ceremony on.
In our daily lives, ceremonies that teach us both humility and honor are few & far between. Could you show your appreciation and respect for your friends and family in some novel way?
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