Jesus and the apostles lived in a warm climate and spent their days wandering dusty roads and the none-too-clean fishing boats in which most of the apostles found their second home. At the end of the day, they enjoyed the momentary luxury of immersing hot and dusty feet into cold water, removing the grime and the traces of all that had gone before.
It is easy to imagine the Last Supper and Jesus washing His apostles’ feet but to see it as something in the past, celebrated in a special manner on Maundy Thursday. Most of us will never need to wash each other’s feet. Yet we are daily surrounded by similar examples, if only we would open our eyes to see the many different ways in which people lead through their humble service of others.
Each and every one of us is a leader in some way or other by virtue of our differing talents and responsibilities. We can follow the example that Jesus gave us in washhing the feet of His apostles. We can follow the example of the apostles, who allowed Jesus to perform an act of humble service. All of us can give and receive. Maundy Thursday shows the way.