Chloe was a bit nervous as it was her First Washing of the Feet. The small church in Smyrna endured the vicissitudes of history and after 2000 years of history, was now the only church inspired solely by John’s Gospel in all Christendom.
First Washing of the Feet Day was the day in which Chloe would fully participate with the rest of the community, in the Eucharist. It was not an easy path. Chloe had to go through a very practical preparation, some special sessions on empathy, respect, acceptance...
She had to join several groups who would distribute food to some homeless in the big city, help at a dispensary in the sketchy part of town, participate and prepare a program for women’s empowerment, and still contribute as a volunteer in an environmental awareness project.
She felt how important this moment was: The big thanksgiving, the Eucharist. She wanted to make Jesus present in service as reminded by her, now almost memorized, through the Eucharist reading read a million times during every Sunday at the Eucharistic Gathering. The words of consecration. Jesus’ final action and instruction during the Last Supper: «After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had reclined again, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you John» (13: 12-15).
She liked it. In service and through service she felt connected to Jesus. It was not so much about creeds and dogmas; it was about a commitment to service. What a beautiful way to make Jesus present into the world!
Of course, Chloe knew about the other Eucharistic traditions originating from the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke.) She knew that for them the bread and the wine were at the center of the Sacrament. But Chloe always thought that the Johannine vision of the Eucharist, through the Washing of the Feet, was as meaningful, at least to her.
That Sunday when people lined up for the moment of the Washing of the Feet, Chloe was thrilled: Seven elders, at the back of the church, not wanting to be at the center, began washing the feet of the seven candidates, who in turn washed the feet of other seven people, and they washed seven more people, so that they all washed each other’s feet, as commanded by Jesus in John’s Gospel. The Eucharist took time, as it does every Sunday really. For Chloe though, it was a moment of commitment and a moment of joy. From that day on, service was to become central to her life, whether in the community, at the church or in her family. She knew that service was at the core of her faith. Service, she thought, is the way to bring Jesus to others and she felt ready for it.
