Chotard Doll

Dear fellow disciples,

Little children,….Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.

Jesus was on his way to die, but he gave two gifts to his followers: a meal to share, in which he would be always be present, and the washing of their feet as a sign of love.

It was common for guests to be given water to wash the dust off their feet, or even a servant to do it, but allowing Jesus, your Lord and Teacher, to wash your feet?  How that must have touched the hearts and souls of those 12 disciples.

I remember the summer my father was confined to a hospital bed in our living room. To help my mother, I would sponge bathe him, and I channeled all my deep love and respect for him into a gentle touch. It was a holy time for me.

In our society touch has unfortunately become problematic, but it is possible to touch the hearts and souls of others by words, by body language, by service in ways that convey respect and recognition of our bond as children of God and followers of Christ.  Jesus does it for us in the Eucharist and in our daily life.

We can still find ways to show that we are disciples by our love for one another. Perhaps you have been the recipient of such a sign…or the giver?

Faithfully,

—Chotard