So You Must Do

Gospel: John 13: 1-15

In a medieval village there was a man who needed to bring a load of goods to someone in another town.  He owned a donkey he intended to use to carry the load, but the man was unable to get the donkey to work.  Frustrated and exasperated, he finally reached out to some friends seeking advice on how to get the donkey to move.

One friend said: "Beat the donkey - that'll get him to move." The man tried this without success.  Another friend suggested: "Add more weight to the load - that'll teach that donkey!" This too failed.  Yet a further bit of advice: "Yell and berate that beast - he'll move for that!" But that friend's pedagogy was also a failed enterprise.  

Finally, a friend came along and said, "Share the burden with the animal.  Carry the load and the donkey will follow." The man took this advice, and lo and behold it worked!  Once the man took the burden on himself the donkey was inspired to carry the burden as well.  

This is the lesson Jesus provides in washing our feet.  "As I have done, so also you must do." Jesus takes the initiative in carrying the burden, in teaching us to live in service to others.  We are now inspired and have a pattern to follow for our lives, even to the point of death.