Those were His last days on Earth. And He knew it.

         His birth, expected throughout the centuries, had been announced by celestial messengers. At last, He arrived.

         He lived among men for a little more than three decades.  He started His messianic path at a party in Cana, celebrating the anniversary of one of His mom’s relatives.

         And on that Thursday night, He puts an end to His messianic path on Earth by celebrating the Jewish Easter, according to Israel’s tradition.

         After supper, He takes off His tunic, puts on a towel over His kidneys, picks up a water jar and a basin, and starts washing the apostles’ feet.

         The apostles got puzzled as that was a slave duty exclusively.

         Neither patriarchies in Israel, nor any other Israelite family parent would do such thing.

         The guest was receptioned at the door with a welcome kiss.

         Immediately after, a slave would untie the noble friend’s sandals and wash his feet, thus reducing the unpleasantness caused by the wearing of those open sandals on those dusty lands.

         Peter tries to avoid it. The Master is too special for humiliating Himself so much!

         Nevertheless, as Jesus tells him that if he does not accept it, he shall not meet with Him in His Reign, Peter accepts the gesture.

         After finishing the task, the Outstanding Humanity Professor takes a seat again among those who joined the supper and points out:

         Do you understand what I did to you?

         You call me Master and Lord, and right you are because Master and Lord I am.

         Thus, if I, Master and Lord, washed your feet, so shall you wash each other’s feet.

         Because I gave you the example, so that like I did to you, you too shall do to each other.

         What a great lesson!

         First, He teaches that none of us should avoid self-knowledge.

         Self-knowledge is essential for reaching happiness.

         This way, Jesus emphasizes that He is a Master and a Lord. He tells us that each one of us must be aware of the acquired virtues.

         Everyone of us must know what we have conquered so far, our values.

         During an auto assessment, it should be no mistake then to qualify ourselves as someone who already owns one or more virtues, however not completely.

         Jesus sets us the example.

         The second lesson is that no matter how important we are, considering our intellectual/ moral status, our professional positions, and our responsibilities, we shall never give room to pride.

         After all, what are a few years on Earth versus the eternity that is waiting for us?

         Moreover, what should we be proud of? A certain achievement, a superior job position, an outstanding intellectuality?

         What do they all represent before the Universe and eternity?

         We are inhabitants of a tiny planet held by a fifth magnitude sun!

         Let us think about it, reviving the Christ’s lesson and let us be humble, learning how to always serve, and serve.

Spiritist Moment Team, based on verses 12 a 15 from chap.
XIII from the Book of John September 29. 2008.