Daily Archives: 17 April, 2025

A Unique Testimony. Reflection for marriages. John 13:1-15

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From the Gospel according to John, Jn 13:1-15

Before the feast of Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to pass from this world to the Father. He loved his own in the world and he loved them to the end. The devil had already induced Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot, to hand him over. So, during supper, fully aware that the Father had put everything into his power and that he had come from God and was returning to God, he rose from supper and took off his outer garments. He took a towel and tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and dry them with the towel around his waist. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Master, are you going to wash my feet? Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing, you do not understand now, but you will understand later.” Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me.” Simon Peter said to him, “Master, then not only my feet, but my hands and head as well.” Jesus said to him, “Whoever has bathed has no need except to have his feet washed, for he is clean all over; so you are clean, but not all.” For he knew who would betray him; for this reason, he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

So when he had washed their feet and put his garments back on and reclined at table again, he said to them, “Do you realize what I have done for you? You call me ‘teacher’ and ‘master,’ and rightly so, for indeed I am. If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.”

The Gospel of the Lord

A Unique Testimony

Christ invites us to mutual submission, to become slaves to one another just as He became a slave to us. It’s worth noting that among those whose feet Jesus washed was also Judas… He washed his feet too. This submission must be very important, since for John, the foot washing represents the Eucharist.

It is the only way to be a true Christian witness for other married couples. 

Applied to Married Life:

Tessa: Forgive me, this morning I spoke harshly to you, and yet you were kind to me the whole time. I saw how the greater I made myself, the smaller you made yourself.
Jacob: Tessa, I asked the Holy Spirit for help and He helped me. Above all, I wanted to love you. How could I not love you?
Tessa: I know, but I feel awful for how I acted with you.
Jacob: Let yourself be loved, my darling. That’s what our relationship is about—serving each other. Look at what Jesus says in today’s Gospel: If I do not wash you, you have no part with me. There’s no relationship without that. Sometimes you need me, and other times I need to admit that I need you—so that there is true relationship. And in every act of giving and receiving, Christ is made present through our Sacrament and makes our love grow, transforming it into Marital Charity. Isn’t that amazing?
Tessa: I can’t wait to be the one who welcomes and serves you next time.

 

Mother,

We want to follow the Lord on this path of service. Lord, you are our Master and yet you gird yourself and become our servant. Lord, I want to kneel before my husband and wash his feet. You have placed him in my hands, and me in his.