My Left Foot

I’m a musician and one time I was playing with a group of people that I know well, but don’t often play music with. Someone asked me about the timing of one of the songs and the drummer said to the group, just watch her left foot, that’s where she keeps time. I had never paid attention to this, but sure enough I keep time with my left foot. I remember my very first guitar teacher distinctly teaching me the important of keeping time with your foot, and her being quite strict about it in each lesson. It is one of the things that I also emphasize when I give guitar lessons and I’m sure my students will at some point inherit keeping time with their left foot because that is what their teacher does. We emulate the one that teaches us. I’m sure all my teacher friends hear their students saying phrases that they use regularly, or even mimicking their mannerisms, or picking up on their enthusiasm for a particular subject or lesson. Teachers are extremely influential in the lives of their students and today Jesus reminds us that we are to reflect the legacy of teachers that he has chosen for us. He spent three intense and rich years teaching his disciples and more intimately his twelve apostles all that the Father had told him to. He was a beautiful teacher and used colorful stories to illustrate each lesson. He used challenging questions to get people to think more deeply on matters. He most definitely taught by example in the areas of healing the sick, raising the dead, and curing the lepers. He showed his followers how to be compassionate, merciful, and loving to everyone. He talked about love and intimacy with the Father. He lived each and every lesson with ever fiber of his being. All we have to do is reflect our teacher and people will know whose we are. Jesus looks like the Father, the apostles look like Jesus, we look like the apostles, and so we also look like Jesus who looks like the Father who looks like us. Family resemblance has always fascinated me especially those families with genes that are so undeniably dominant. All I know is that when people look at me, I want them to recognize whom I come from and whom I resemble. 

I love love love that Jesus’ last object lesson was washing his apostles’ feet. If you only remember one thing, dear students, it is to humble yourselves before one another and to serve them. This will be the surest way that people will know we belong to him. When I lose sight of what my purpose is, when I am confused by politics and knowing what is the right thing to do, when I can’t make heads or tails of important issues, I can always bend down and serve, and in that very act I will receive the one who sent me. We can’t give what we don’t have. Jesus longs to show us the way, be the way, and teach us the way. Let’s look like our teacher today. It is well with my soul. 

Reading 1 ACTS 13:13-25

From Paphos, Paul and his companions
set sail and arrived at Perga in Pamphylia. 
But John left them and returned to Jerusalem. 
They continued on from Perga and reached Antioch in Pisidia. 
On the sabbath they entered into the synagogue and took their seats. 
After the reading of the law and the prophets,
the synagogue officials sent word to them,
"My brothers, if one of you has a word of exhortation
for the people, please speak."

So Paul got up, motioned with his hand, and said,
"Fellow children of Israel and you others who are God-fearing, listen.
The God of this people Israel chose our ancestors
and exalted the people during their sojourn in the land of Egypt. 
With uplifted arm he led them out,
and for about forty years he put up with them in the desert.
When he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan,
he gave them their land as an inheritance
at the end of about four hundred and fifty years.
After these things he provided judges up to Samuel the prophet. 
Then they asked for a king.
God gave them Saul, son of Kish,
a man from the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. 
Then he removed him and raised up David as their king;
of him he testified,
I have found David, son of Jesse, a man after my own heart;
he will carry out my every wish.
From this man's descendants God, according to his promise,
has brought to Israel a savior, Jesus. 
John heralded his coming by proclaiming a baptism of repentance
to all the people of Israel;
and as John was completing his course, he would say,
'What do you suppose that I am? I am not he.
Behold, one is coming after me;
I am not worthy to unfasten the sandals of his feet.'"

Responsorial Psalm PS 89:2-3, 21-22, 25 AND 27

R.(2) For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The favors of the LORD I will sing forever;
through all generations my mouth shall proclaim your faithfulness.
For you have said, "My kindness is established forever";
in heaven you have confirmed your faithfulness.
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
"I have found David, my servant;
with my holy oil I have anointed him,
That my hand may be always with him,
and that my arm may make him strong."
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
"My faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him,
and through my name shall his horn be exalted.
He shall say of me, 'You are my father,
my God, the Rock, my savior.'"
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Alleluia SEE RV 1:5AB

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Jesus Christ, you are the faithful witness,
the firstborn of the dead,
you have loved us and freed us from our sins by your Blood.
R. Alleluia, alleluia

Gospel JN 13:16-20

When Jesus had washed the disciples' feet, he said to them:
"Amen, amen, I say to you, no slave is greater than his master
nor any messenger greater than the one who sent him.
If you understand this, blessed are you if you do it.
I am not speaking of all of you.
I know those whom I have chosen.
But so that the Scripture might be fulfilled,
The one who ate my food has raised his heel against me.
From now on I am telling you before it happens,
so that when it happens you may believe that I AM. 
Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send
receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me."