Imitating Jesus

Written by Stephanie Bowman, Associate Chaplain, Felician Village Mission Department

On the night before Jesus was killed, he shared one last supper with his disciples. Before they ate their meal, Jesus tied a towel around his waist, filled a basin with water, and went around the table washing all of their feet. It was a common practice in that day for people to wash their feet before a meal, but it was typically the job of a servant, not the job of the master. When Jesus finished this chore, he said to his disciples, “If I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.” Jesus wanted his disciples to know and understand that loving others involves service. This relates directly to our core Felician value of compassion which states: “in imitation of Jesus, we devote attentive and supportive personal presence to the needs of body, mind, and spirit among all those on our campus.” As we strive to imitate Jesus, we are called to remember that true compassionate leadership is lived out in humble service to others. How can we apply this idea to our daily lives? It might look like stepping in to help someone when things are extra busy, even when it’s not your job. It might look like spending a few minutes to talk with someone who seems lonely. Maybe it’s treating the people whose job it is to serve you with respect and kindness. This core value can be lived out in every area of our lives as we strive to imitate Jesus’ attitude of humble service in our families, with our friends, and within our communities. As we all practice living out the core value of compassion in our lives, each act of loving service will make Felician Village, our families, and our communities a better place. As Mother Teresa said, “Not all of us can do great things, but we can do small things with great love.”