By Michael Patrick O’Brien–
For years, on Holy Thursday, I have watched the commemoration of the Last Supper, including the washing of the feet, when the local Catholic priest re-enacts Jesus’ great act of service and humility. The ritual always seemed interesting, but also ancient and foreign, until I recognized a contemporary version of it in a story that my LDS law partner and friend told me.
My friend is the classic well-dressed man. Due to good taste, and not vanity, he always presents himself well. It is his own elegant and personal way of improving the world’s aesthetics. He does it very well. This care and attention is most evident in his shoes, which are always clean and polished.
We talked about shoes one day. He politely told me that mine could use some polish and he was right. I polish my shoes about every other year, whether they need it or not. He gave me the polish he keeps in his desk drawer, and I started on the work to improve my own aesthetics. He started giving me tips on the process and after a few minutes, I was watching him polish my shoes. It was a kind and friendly act.
As he polished my shoes, he told me how one Easter, he gave a unique gift to his wife and children. He stayed up late the night before to prepare it. When they woke up a few hours later, on Easter morning, and came into the living room, they each found their own favorite pair of shoes, lovingly cleaned and polished to a perfect shine by my friend.
When I heard this story, instantly I thought of the Gospel of John which I had heard proclaimed so often during Holy Week on the Thursday before Easter: “Then he poured water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which he was girded.” (John 13:5)
It was a striking but simple revelation. Sometimes I think we make this religion thing way too complicated. We can answer the common question “What would Jesus do?” by performing a simple act such as cleaning and polishing the shoes of someone we love.
