AUDIO MEDITATION:

Eustache Le Sueur (French, 1616-1655), Saint Louis Washing the Feet of the Sick, ca. 1654, black and white chalk on brown laid paper, laid down on beige card. Snite Museum of Art, University of Notre Dame: Gift of John D. Reilly ’63, 2014.061.193.

FULL TEXT:

The Gospel for Holy Thursday is enacted in the Mass today with the washing of the feet. When Jesus had washed the feet of his disciples, he said to them, “Do you realize what I have done for you? I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.”

This sketch from the Snite Museum of Art on campus shows the French king, St. Louis, following Jesus’ example and washing someone’s feet. The person he is serving is unknown, but is most certainly of a lower station than the king. The scene was not out of character for Louis, who invited 13 homeless people to dine with him personally every day and he served them himself.

Note the tenderness with which St. Louis attends to this foot—he understands the Lord’s command here, which orients leadership around service.

Whose feet are we being called to wash—who might we humble ourselves to serve today?