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| This oil painting by Joan hangs in the All Saints Mission in
Mutoko, Zimbabwe. |
Blessed are the feet of him who brings good news of our lord
Jesus Christ.
The stubbing of a toe against a table leg or stone can send
a thrill of pain almost to the spine.
The foot is so wonderfully crafted. There are the little
bones of the toes, each small joint giving way to movement. Then the long bones
and ligaments of the foot leading to the ankle which gives mobility. The curve
of the heel, the arch of the instep and the ball of the foot lie underneath to
provide a cushion.
How many miles did Jesus walk through the dust and sand of
the desert, across rocky sun baked earth or up craggy rocky paths to the
mountain tops?
Once, in a mysterious and miraculous way, Jesus walked on
water, upheld buoyantly by his faith divinity and His Father’s great love. How
cool and soft and unresistant it must have felt to him. How joyous.
In the coolness of the evening after a long, dusty day water
was brought in, sandals were removed and feet were washed for cleanliness and
refreshment then were carefully dried.
Mary Magdalene knelt before Jesus one evening, took his feet
gently in her hands and washed them lovingly with her tears before drying them
with her hair.
Our Lord cared for and comforted his tired disciples on the
night of the last supper; an act of extremely love, servitude, humility and
service.
And when at last you plumbed the depths of sin and took it
from us and laid it on your shoulders, Lord Jesus, your feet were nailed to the
cross. J.R.
