Holy Thursday, March 28
The Washing of the Disciples’ Feet
John 13:1-15
Painful
Sometimes we simply can’t tolerate
witnessing the pain of the ones we love.
We need to look away when the IV is inserted,
to leave the room when the breathing gets labored,
to take a break from the ICU.
Compassion is to join in the suffering of another out of love,
but there is a point too much to bear,
a point that can trigger emotional unconsciousness.
Couldn’t, wouldn’t this have been the case for the apostles
keeping watch in prayer during Jesus’ agony?
That when faced with their beloved sweating blood,
when the predictions they tried to ignore were proving true,
the only recourse was sleep, if only for an hour?
May we have mercy on them and on ourselves,
offering love, understanding and forgiveness for being human,
for having limitations,
and then we shall become one,
knowing that God is with us still.