Reflection - Washing of the feet - Holy Thursday

Reflection - Washing of the feet - Holy Thursday
It was the week after Easter and the first day of the new term at our Sunday School in Katase, Yokohama diocese. Mrs Tanaka and I were team teaching. This is what she told the children:

"I want to share with you my experience last year (2013) on Holy Thursday night. Columban Fr Barry Cairns had asked me as a Sunday School leader to be one of the 12 at the foot-washing ceremony. My first reaction was a very definite, "No". I thought that I would be too embarrassed with a priest washing my feet. But after discussing it with my family I changed my mind and said, "Yes' even though I was still somewhat unwilling. Father gave me a printed sheet with the Gospel foot-washing scene and instructions for what to do.

I was nervous lining up on Holy Thursday night. Then the Holy Spirit hit me. Father started pouring water over my foot and shared: "This is exactly what Jesus did to his disciples 2000 years ago", and he is doing it to me now! This brought Jesus even closer to me and his message was alive. I realised that Jesus was down with me on my human level, and that this was where he wishes to be. I went back to my seat and the words of Jesus echoed in my heart, 'I have washed your feet, now you should wash one another's feet. I have given you an example so that you may copy what I have done to you'.

I realised that foot-washing is very much at the heart of being a true follower of Christ. So I went home and talked things over again with my husband and children. How, in concrete ways could we wash other people's feet?

We decided that this attitude starts in our home. For example, we accept and welcome Dad when he comes home from work after overtime, all tired and stressed. (Dad actually blushed and said he would try to be less grumpy). The children said they would support those in their classes who were the object of jokes, teasing and bullying. The children also said that they would be especially kind and gentle to the physically and mentally disadvantaged children who come to our Sunday School.

And finally we agreed that we all have wounds in our hearts caused by others who have hurt us. It is very hard to forgive those people, but forgiving others is very much part of having a Christ-like foot-washing heart.

So you see the foot-washing by Jesus 2000 years ago makes very much sense today."

So ended the vivid testimony of Mrs Tanaka. I was due to talk next but was struck in admiration. All I said was: "You have made Jesus and his message alive and relevant for us today. Thank you Mrs Tanaka."

Columban Fr Barry Cairns SSC first went to Japan in 1956.

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Read more from The Far East, April 2014