Let Jesus Wash Your Feet

Holy Thursday
April 1, 2010
John 13: 1-15 “Not all of you are clean.”


Today we begin to commemorate the passion and death of our Lord. As we accompany him in his suffering and death, let us be reminded that Jesus is doing everything for the forgiveness of our sins.

In the Jewish culture, washing another’s feet was one that could not be required of the lowliest Jewish slave. It was so humiliating and degrading that even the slaves were spared from doing it. But Jesus did it out of his great love for us. He did not care what others would say. What matters most was to save us and to obey the will of the Father.

Today, as we accompany Jesus in his agony and humiliation, allow him to wash your feet. Be one of the disciples. See, feel, and listen to Peter’s hesitancy and shame while his feet are being washed by Jesus. What do you feel when Jesus started washing your feet? Feel his gentle hands touching your dirty feet. Feel how he loves you in spite of your sins.


Let Jesus love you today. Let him cleanse your soul by washing your feet.
St. John gave us something to reflect as we begin recalling our sinfulness.

“If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness,
we lie and do not do what is true; but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” (1 John 1: 5 – 2:1)
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Let us Pray:

You overlook our sins that we may repent. (Wisdom 11:23b)

You have mercy on all, because you can do all things.
You overlook my sins so that I may repent. Lord, have mercy.

For you love all things that exist and loathe nothing that you have made,
For you would not have fashioned anything if you hated it. Lord, have mercy.

And how could a thing remain in existence unless you willed it?
Or how could it be preserved had it not been called forth by you? Lord, have mercy on me.

But you spare me because I am yours,
O Lord, you come to give me life and have it to the fullest. Amen.

- Fr.Willy M. Samson,SJ / Blessed Sacrament Parish, Hollywood / April 1, 2010