John 13:14-15

At no time in the history of the Church has foot washing been a regular practice, and I don’t believe that Jesus was suggesting that it should be. He was simply giving his disciples an example of costly service. If we want to live in step with Jesus, we need to be willing to serve others - even though that will often prove difficult and unpleasant, and come as a surprise to those whom we serve.

In Jesus’ teaching, the supreme illustration of costly service was that of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). He was willing to expose himself to considerable danger by helping the man who had been attacked by robbers. The road from Jerusalem to Jericho wound its way through rocky desert, and was well known as a place where bandits operated. But he was willing stop and help the wounded man in this potentially hazardous area. He was willing to offer his own donkey, to take the injured man to a place where he would be cared for.

And when he got there, he offered to pay the inn keeper enough money to look after him, however long it took.

Jesus came to serve and not to be served, and that is our calling today. As much as we love to be cared for and pampered, we are commanded, first of all, to serve others. I first learnt the Prayer of St Loyola at my school’s morning assemblies and it is an inspiring one for us to pray as we serve God today.

QUESTION
In what ways have you experienced the costliness of serving the Lord?

PRAYER
Teach us, good Lord, to serve you as you deserve: to give and not to count the cost; to fight, and not to heed the wounds; to toil, and not to seek for rest; to labour, and not to ask for any reward, save that of knowing that we do your will. Amen

Released on 28 Jul 2023