Dear Catholic Exchange::
Is John 13 (the washing of the disciples' feet) an initial form of the sacrament of reconciliation? There seem to be a great parallel.
Michael
Dear Michael,
Peace in Christ!
The act of washing the feet of the disciples is connected to the sacrament of Holy Orders. After Jesus did this, He told the disciples that a servant is not greater than his master, so if the master — whom they called “Teacher” and “Lord” — washed their feet, they also should do the same for one another. This speaks of the very character of the sacramental priesthood in the Church. Its authority is founded in the ability to serve.
In another place, when settling a dispute among the disciples as to who would be the greatest, Jesus told them that the kings of the gentiles lord it over their subjects. “But not so with you; rather let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. For which is the greater, one who sits at the table, or one who serves: Is it not the one who sits at table? But I am among you as one who serves” (Luke 22:26-27). Like many things in the Kingdom of God, it is a complete inversion of the world. In the world, authority dominates; in the Kingdom of God, authority has its power in service. John 13 conveys this same idea. Jesus is affirming that those whom He has appointed to lead His flock will be their servants.
The Church refers to this passage in the Catechism, no. 1337 with specific reference to the institution of the Holy Eucharist. Jesus washed the feet of the disciples and “gave them the commandment of love. In order to leave them a pledge of this love, in order never to depart from His own and to make them sharers in His Passover, He instituted the Eucharist….” Thus, the love that Jesus commanded the Apostles to walk in, He first demonstrated Himself by washing their feet. He then established the Eucharist as a never-ending pledge of that love.
Though there may be some things to compare John 13 with the sacrament of Reconciliation, Church teaching has always presented this event in terms of the sacramental priesthood and the institution of the Eucharist.
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