Unless I Wash You

“Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me." John 13:8

After Jesus eats His last meal with His disciples, He prepares to wash their feet. Of course none of them were prepared for that! 

At the evening mass for Holy Thursday, the priest washes the feet of some church goers. I am sure those chosen men wash their feet well! But the disciples did not have time to prepare. So of course, Peter and no doubt the others said, “NO WAY!" 

Peter was probably too ashamed to let Jesus hold his grimy, calloused feet with its long dirty toenails! But Jesus said, "I have to wash your feet, or you won't get your inheritance, you can't have a part of My Kingdom. You won't be my brother." And so Peter typically goes overboard and pleads, “Wash my hands and head as well!"

Today, how can we allow Jesus to wash us, cleanse us? By going to confession, by asking forgiveness, by allowing Him into the deepest recesses of our hearts, minds and lives, asking Him to show us what we need to change, to give up, to surrender. 

St. Peter writes, "love covers a multitude of sins" (1 Peter 4:8). He should know, as he witnessed first hand how Jesus’ compassion covered his sin of betrayal, and is more than enough to atone for our own transgression. 

Thank You, Jesus, for washing me clean so I may receive the promised inheritance of all children of God!