Chapel Address, Concordia College—New York
April 5, 2011
As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. Luke 7:38
Look at your feet. Look closely. What do you see there? What adjective would you use? Large? Small? Calloused? Lumpy? Sore? Painted? Cute?
How about this one—beautiful. I’m not sure we usually think of feet as beautiful. I remember trying to draw feet in drawing class, having to focus on the shapes and contours. I realized that the more you look at them, the more beautiful they are. Like a lot of things, actually, the more you look at them.
How beautiful your sandaled feet, O prince’s daughter! Your graceful legs are like jewels, the work of an artist’s hands! (Song of Solomon 7:1)
Another adjective—heroic. Depictions of Greek heroes going into battle are always barefoot. I wonder why? It is a sign of strength, surely. By connecting to the earth we draw on its power. But we also draw on the connective power of shared humanity, as we walk the same ground today as those who have no shoes. Maybe they are heroes. Maybe you are heroes. When you see your feet, do you think, these are a hero’s feet?
How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, says Isaiah.
You are a hero because of the good news you bring today, the solidarity you proclaim by going without shoes.
But you will also go places with these feet. Places that you never thought possible. You will be a hero in those places, because you will bring shoes to children, you will bring good tidings and love to forgotten places. You won’t bring God, he’s already in those places. But you’ll discover Him there. As you sit at others’ feet.
Jesus washed his disciples’ feet to signify that he was their servant. And to remind them of baptism, that their sin was washed away. But it was also to send them, to say to them, you have beautiful and heroic feet. You will go places with these feet.
There’s one more adjective—loving. Are your feet loving? Can you love someone’s feet? There was a woman who was so overcome with love for Jesus that she washed his feet with her tears and caressed them with her hair. Guys and gals take note: if you love someone, say it to their feet. A little washing, caressing, and perfume will go a long way. Maybe at the end of today especially.
Jesus washes our feet so that we may go out to the farthest corners of the earth, to give of ourselves and become who we really are: beautiful, heroic, and loving. Amen.
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