The Gift of Presence

It’s funny how thoughts can come to you. I was just reflecting on the gift of presence in one of the women I work with and into my head came the image of Jesus washing the feet of his disciples. Today’s reflection is about the effortless expression of love that has the power to change lives. Anne Marrow Lindbergh, who D’Arcy discussed in her writing for today, goes out and literally washes the feet of the people; the elderly in this community.

“Most of them were thoroughly embarrassed, however, and they apologized profusely before removing their shoes. Many could no longer bend over to give themselves foot care and were extremely grateful to have their nails clipped. But at the same time, they felt ashamed to have her see the condition of their feet. Her gentle spirit won them over. Soon she was clipping their nails while another companion rubbed the scaly, worn feet with oil and creams. Before long, the weary faces had changed, and the old men and women were telling stories and reminiscing about their lives” (D’Arcy).

                How often do we come to God like these elderly? Broken and ashamed but knowing that we can no longer manage this on our own. God sent us the example of Jesus to show us not only the care He offers each one of us but the loving way to be present to one another. When Jesus stooped to wash the feet of his disciples he was doing so much more than giving them the gift of clean feet. This one seemingly simple act of love paved the way for so many other things. Like Anne, Jesus probably understood that love is not about the actual gift that is given but rather it’s about the ability for that gift to create new life.

                When I was young, my parents would always take Maria and I to Holy Thursday mass on the east side in the home of Fr. Jim O’Donnell. We would squeeze into his cramped living room and when the time came each person would take a basin of water and a towel and wash the feet of their neighbor. Everyone participated. If you came here, you knew what you were getting into and it was not for the faint of heart. It never failed to make me cry to see children washing the feet of grandmas and grandmas washing the feet of their grown children. I never really understood why this simple act made me so emotional. I think what D’Arcy wrote hits the nail on the head though. “Love, in fact, isn’t the actual gift that’s given, but rather the force that makes it possible for other things, such as strength or hope, to be found.” This simple act of washing one another’s feet was and continues to be one of the most visible signs of God’s love in the world for me. This Advent, I want to widen the margins of love in my life.