We sat embarassed, listening to the water splash . . . Our hopes of glory gone, we sat in silence

LAST LESSON

(John 13:3-16)

The festive table glowed with candles,
warding off the darkness lurking
in the corners of the upper room.

As soon as we had found a place,
for once not quarreling over who
sat next to Jesus, he removed
his outer robe, wrapped a towel
around himself, poured a basin
full of water, and knelt at Peter's feet!

"Lord," he blurted, "you shall never
wash my feet!" Jesus warned him:
"If you do not let me wash you,
you can have no share with me."
Poor Peter begged, "Then wash my hands
and head as well."  But Jesus answered:

"Those who bathe need only have
their feet washed."  We sat embarrassed,
listening to the water splash.
Still on his knees, the Master looked
at us then.  "You are clean,"
he added, "though not all of you."

And so we let him wash our feet!
Afterwards, he questioned, "Do you
understand what I have done?"

Our hopes of glory gone, we sat
in silence.  He went on: "You call me
Lord and Teacher.  You are right.
Tonight I, your Lord and Teacher,
have set you an example:  Do
for one another as I have done."

The supper table glowed with candles
warding off the crouching darkness
as we - his chosen servant leaders -
listened to our Master Teacher
nailing down his final lesson
on the night before he died. 

Sr Irene Zimmerman OSF