The Washing of the Feet
By Jesus Mafa
By Jesus Mafa
What do you notice in this painting? What strikes you? Is there anything you particularly notice that resonates with your life, with your experience?
I am struck by the light and the shadow of the image, and how Peter is trying mightily to hide his feet, away and in the shadows, out of reach from Jesus' gentle, yet strong and attending hands.
Jesus is always reaching out to us with these hands, and in as intimate a way as to wash our feet. And yet, for whatever reason, we hold back in the shadows.....maybe not our whole selves, but perhaps just that part. That part we feel to be too beat up or grungy or that we know, if we take a whiff, just smells really bad. Let's be honest about it. We all have those places, those pieces, those wounded or weary or smelly places in our lives.
I imagine, as I gaze upon this painting, Peter saying, "Oh no, Jesus! You do not want to go there!" And yet that is Jesus' very desire and offering. To tend with love and care and gentleness and goodness of strength to those very places that are beat up or grungy or smelly or wounded, those very places we seek to hide in the shadows of who we are.
It is your choice...Jesus always offers but never forces our opening up to his tender, healing, attentive touch.
And so, the question emerges.........How do you wish to choose today?.......
With love and prayers for you, and for all our Incarnation family together, that we may know a journey filled with sacred blessings this Holy Week.
With much love and many prayers,
Mother Julia
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