“Now, that I, your Lord and Techer, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.”  (John 13:14

These are Jesus’ words after he had washed the disciples’ feet at the Last Supper.  His purpose was to demonstrate the importance of serving one another.  He goes on to say that he is setting an example for them to follow and that they will be blessed if they do the same. 

While Jesus was demonstrating this message to the disciples, his example is of course applicable to all of us.  The fact that he waited to do this on his last night with the disciples after he had been with them for three years reveals the importance he placed on this.  We are all called to love and serve one another.   

I can think of many examples of people who serve as Jesus suggests: a friend who visits and cares daily for her 92-year-old father; a friend in our church who is a religious education teacher, on parish council, and has overseen an Alpha evangelization program for the last seven years.  My wife who constantly serves our adult daughter with an intellectual disability; our four other adult children who serve their families, their churches, their employers, and friends. 

Jesus says, “Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”  (John 13:17)   Saint Paul encourages us to “serve wholeheartedly.” (Ephesians 6:7)

Do you act on the opportunities to serve others that occur each day?