April 3, 2007

Let’s ponder for a moment the feet of Christ anointed by Mary in yesterday’s Gospel reading (Jn 12:1-11). Mary of Bethany, the contemplative who loved to sit as a disciple at the feet of Christ (Lk 10:39), was able to see so much more clearly than the others how precious those feet were. Like the woman who anointed Christ’s feet with her tears of love and repentance in Luke 7 (vs. 39ff), she was able to see more clearly because of her great love.

“How beautiful on the mountain are the feet of him who brings good news.” This description refers prophetically to the feet of Christ. Judas calculates the cost of three hundred days wages—more extravagant than the 30 pieces of silver he will get for betraying Him. In Luke and Matthew’s account, Simon the Pharisee (and leper) and Jesus’ disciples are also scandalized by the extravagance of the woman. They aren’t as aware as those women of how precious the feet of Christ are, and so they can only calculate in practical terms. Perhaps they would agree with G.K. Chesterton’s definition of a “fanatic” as “anyone who is more devout than I am.”

These feet belong to the One who is Beauty itself, Who is Love itself, the Way, the Truth, and the Life. These are the same feet that were painfully pierced through by nails on the Cross because of our lack of love. “Love is not loved!” Saint Francis used to cry out. He had the loving vision of those holy women to respond with an extreme love in return. That is why he was given the stigmata, and why he is often depicted in art embracing the feet of Christ on the cross. The feet of Christ were in fact more powerful in proclaiming the Good News when fastened for those 3 hours on the Cross than they were during the 3 years of Jesus’ public ministry.

There is an icon of Christ in the tomb, which is titled “Extreme Humility.” He is worthy of every ounce of the most extravagant love we can offer to Him, because of the extravagant gift of Himself to us, which the wounds in His precious feet prove to us.

Fr. Richard Roemer, CFR

Most Blessed Sacrament Friary, Newark, NJ

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