{"id":5027,"date":"2020-03-16T08:00:51","date_gmt":"2020-03-16T00:00:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.jeffangiegoh.com\/?p=5027"},"modified":"2021-10-15T11:15:12","modified_gmt":"2021-10-15T03:15:12","slug":"220-saint-augustine-on-foot-washing-and-christus-humilis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jeffangiegoh.com\/?p=5027","title":{"rendered":"244. Saint Augustine on Foot-Washing and Christus Humilis"},"content":{"rendered":"

And during supper\u00a03\u00a0<\/sup>Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God,\u00a04\u00a0<\/sup>got up from the table,\u00a0took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself.\u00a05\u00a0<\/sup>Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples\u2019 feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him.<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0[John 13:3-5, NRSV<\/em>]<\/p>\n

\"\"\u00a0<\/a>Jesus Christ Washing the Feet of His Apostles<\/span><\/em>, by Giotto di Bondone 1304-1306<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

On every Holy Thursday, instead of presenting to us one of the Synoptic Gospel stories of the \u201cinstitution\u201d of the Eucharist, the Church offers us the disturbing posture of the Master kneeling before his friends to wash their feet in a gesture of humility and service.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jesus washing his disciples\u2019 feet is integral to the Last Supper. It is the flip side to the often over-emphasized and over-worked \u201cinstitution\u201d narrative and the consequent doctrine of \u201cReal Presence\u201d. On this holy night of \u201cinstitution\u201d, as Jesus drank from the cup of his blood and stooped to wash feet, a new and dynamic common bond was created with his disciples. This was a bond infused with a spirit of mutual forgiveness and acceptance, mutual respect and love. Then the voice of God is heard, \u201cAs I have done for you, so you must also do to each other.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

John the Fourth Gospel is saying to all who would follow Christ that while they must remember his sacrifice in the Mass, they must never forget his kingdom-building admonition to go out and serve the world. Christians come to church services, to be graced and blessed with Christ\u2019s presence amongst them, so that they may go out to share that grace and be a blessing to everyone that they meet. Saint Augustine emphasizes this servant attitude for our benefit.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to Augustine, human pilgrimage to the heavenly Jerusalem begins with imitating the humble Christ (Christus humilis<\/em>). Christ the humble physician heals the wounds caused by pride with the medicine of humility. Christ is the master of humility.<\/span><\/p>\n

How does Christ\u2019s humility heal?<\/span><\/p>\n

First<\/em>, Christ\u2019s humility heals by contrast. God creates with power and saves with humility. So we see a strong and a weak Jesus: his strength created us, but his weakness created us anew; he fashioned us by his strength, but he sought us by his weakness. Pride<\/em> being the cause and fountainhead of all diseases, the Son of God became humble in order that pride might be healed. Christ\u2019s humility cleanses, purifies and heals, and is the antidote to human pride.<\/span><\/p>\n

Second<\/em>, Christ as Mediator between God and humans is rooted in his humility. As Mediator, he reconciles through humility all that divides God and humanity. The death of Christ in humility on the cross is the culmination of the humble pathway to God and carries the promise of our redemption. Through Christ\u2019s humility, the eternal God descends to our mortality in order to invite our ascent to immortality.<\/span><\/p>\n

Third<\/em>, the humility of Christ is thus a kenosis<\/em><\/strong>, a self-emptying love<\/strong>. The christological hymn in Philippians 2:6-11 brings out the extent of Christ\u2019s humility and sacrifice. It profoundly expresses the willing sacrifice and surrender of Jesus Christ, who despite his glorious pre-existence, came to earth in human form (his incarnation) in order to carry out his mission of redemption. While on earth he obediently endured humiliation, even the ultimate humiliation and degradation of crucifixion. This obedience is rewarded with sublime exaltation that commands universal worship.<\/span><\/p>\n