It Can Also Be Blessed to Receive
John 13:5–8
"Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, 'You will never wash my feet.' Jesus answered, 'Unless I wash you, you have no share in me.' Simon Peter said to him, 'Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!'"
Reflection by Anthony B. Robinson
On Thursday in that last, holy week, Jesus had a final dinner with his disciples. It was then that Jesus tied a towel around his waist, took a bowl of water, and knelt to wash the feet of his friends.
When Jesus came to Peter, Peter said, "No way." "Lord," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet." I suspect that Peter would have been comfortable washing Jesus' feet, being in the giving role. He wasn't so comfortable on the receiving end.
We often hear, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." There's truth in that. But this saying and its truth may hide another: giving can be an act of power, while receiving tends to make us vulnerable. It can also be blessed to receive. And sometimes it's harder.
For some it is a whole lot easier to give gifts than to receive them. For some of us, it can be difficult to accept or to receive help. We may be generous givers, but impoverished receivers. When someone gives you a compliment, are you able to receive it? If a friend or pastor were to lay a hand on your head and bless you, could you handle it?
When Peter said, "No way," to Jesus, Jesus responded bluntly, "Unless I wash you, you have no part in me." Peter relented. "Then, Lord, wash me all over."
Soon Jesus would be gone and Peter would be called to give and give and give again. He would be asked to lead and serve others. Perhaps Jesus wanted Peter to know that before he was a giver, he was—and would always be—a receiver, a receiver of God's extravagant grace for him. Why? Because it's difficult to give what we have not received.
There's a time and place to be generous givers; and there is also a time and place to be generous receivers. This night, this week, is one such time.
Prayer
Holy Kneeling One, wash me all over. Cleanse me in your love. And grant me the grace to be a generous receiver. Amen.
John 13:5–8
"Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, 'You will never wash my feet.' Jesus answered, 'Unless I wash you, you have no share in me.' Simon Peter said to him, 'Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!'"
Reflection by Anthony B. Robinson
On Thursday in that last, holy week, Jesus had a final dinner with his disciples. It was then that Jesus tied a towel around his waist, took a bowl of water, and knelt to wash the feet of his friends.
When Jesus came to Peter, Peter said, "No way." "Lord," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet." I suspect that Peter would have been comfortable washing Jesus' feet, being in the giving role. He wasn't so comfortable on the receiving end.
We often hear, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." There's truth in that. But this saying and its truth may hide another: giving can be an act of power, while receiving tends to make us vulnerable. It can also be blessed to receive. And sometimes it's harder.
For some it is a whole lot easier to give gifts than to receive them. For some of us, it can be difficult to accept or to receive help. We may be generous givers, but impoverished receivers. When someone gives you a compliment, are you able to receive it? If a friend or pastor were to lay a hand on your head and bless you, could you handle it?
When Peter said, "No way," to Jesus, Jesus responded bluntly, "Unless I wash you, you have no part in me." Peter relented. "Then, Lord, wash me all over."
Soon Jesus would be gone and Peter would be called to give and give and give again. He would be asked to lead and serve others. Perhaps Jesus wanted Peter to know that before he was a giver, he was—and would always be—a receiver, a receiver of God's extravagant grace for him. Why? Because it's difficult to give what we have not received.
There's a time and place to be generous givers; and there is also a time and place to be generous receivers. This night, this week, is one such time.
Prayer
Holy Kneeling One, wash me all over. Cleanse me in your love. And grant me the grace to be a generous receiver. Amen.
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