Washing the feet of prisoners? It’s your turn!

Well, it was Jesus who started this whole business of foot-washing. Yes, that Jesus, whose death and resurrection we remember this week. 

In many churches around the country on Maundy or Holy Thursday, there’ll be foot-washing ceremonies. Remembering that unusual event in the Last Supper, people will wash the feet of fellow worshipers and pray for them while doing so. Polite, clean, beautiful. 

The original ritual with our Lord and his disciples, however, did not take place in a fancy church with running water, stained glass windows and padded pews, nor did it involve beautiful, clean, pedicured feet. 

In those days feet were filthy. People wore sandals in the dusty streets of Israel. The only people who washed feet were slaves. And in that hierarchical system, a slave was property, not entirely human, someone to whom one could do anything with impunity. So of course, it was the slave who washed feet. And this act was considered beneath the dignity, beneath the humanity of anyone else. 

That helps us get the proper picture. Now, let’s return to the 21st century. 

As a lover of prisoners, who has devoted the final years of his life to improving their lot, this writer praises Pope Francis for focusing on an incredibly beautiful ritual during the special week. He washes the feet of prisoners! And he does this in the most fascinating and meaningful ways! 

One year, he focused on prisoners with special needs. One year he washed the feet of Christians, Muslims and a Buddhist prisoner! Last year, even though he was so feeble he was forced to remain in his wheelchair, Pope Francis washed and kissed the feet of 12 women inmates at a Rome prison. Sounds like Jesus to me! 

Now it’s our turn.

Today, washing the feet of prisoners perhaps can be understood as an act of service and humility, echoing Jesus' example of humility and service. I’m suggesting that you and I undertake simple acts like saying a prayer for them, sending them a personal note, and yes, supporting those agencies striving to improve their plight. We can wash the feet of prisoners by showing respect and dignity, not just to the nice people whom we believe are wrongly convicted, or those who have given their lives to Christ, but to all incarcerated men and women. 

I have a feeling that’s what Jesus was talking about when he concluded the ceremony with these words: Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.  I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 

Today, let’s grab a towel!