Simon says

Learning to obey Jesus alone 

John 13: 5-14

Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet  and dry them with the towel around his waist. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him,  “Master, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing, you do not understand now, but you will understand later.” Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me.” Simon Peter said to him, “Master, then not only my feet, but my hands and head as well.” Jesus said to him,  “Whoever has bathed has no need except to have his feet washed, for he is clean all over;  so you are clean, but not all.” For he knew who would betray him; for this reason, he said, “Not all of you are clean.” So when he had washed their feet  and put his garments back on and reclined at table again,  he said to them, “Do you realize what I have done for you? You call me ‘teacher’ and ‘master,’ and rightly so, for indeed I am. If I, therefore, the master and teacher,

have washed your feet,  you ought to wash one another’s feet.”

            Have you ever played the game “Simon says”?  I really hate that game.  I am always the first one to go out.  Here’s how it works.  A group of people face one person, the leader, who’s called “Simon.”  Whenever Simon begins a statement with “Simon says” you must do it.  For example, if he says, “Simon says touch your nose,” you touch your nose.  Or, “Simon says hop on one leg,” you must hop on one leg.  But if he only says “Scratch your head” and you scratch your head, you’re out.  Why?  Well, because the magic words are “Simon says.”  You only do what Simon tells you to do; you don’t do anything else.

            In the gospel today Jesus is playing a little “Simon says” with his disciples.  Jesus washes his disciples’ feet and says, “If I, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet.”  It’s like Jesus is saying, “Simon says wash each other’s feet.”  Now, who was the first one of the disciples to go out?  Ironically, it was the one called Simon!  Simon Peter.  He was the first to go out because he didn’t do what Jesus said.  Instead, he wanted Jesus to wash his hands and head as well.  But that’s not how you play the game.  I love Simon Peter: he makes all those who can’t play “Simon says” look good.  Eventually, though, Peter learned how to play this game perfectly, and later when Jesus would say “Simon says lay down your life for your friends,” Peter didn’t hesitate.  Peter learned that the whole of Christianity can be boiled down to the simple game of "Simon says” but in Christianity, Jesus gets to be the leader.

            My friends, you may think “Simon says” is just a child’s game; but it isn’t at all.  We adults are often doing exactly what other people tell us to do, just like in the game “Simon says.”  Think about this:  If Michael Jordan tells you to buy Hanes underwear, people run out and buy Hanes underwear.  If Taylor Swift tells people to drink diet coke, everyone starts drinking diet coke.  If Katy Perry tells you to eat Popchips, people eat popchips.  If Fr. John tells people don’t leave Mass early, everyone ignores him.  See why I hate this game?    If you don’t believe me, just do a quick google search to see how many billions of dollars are spent on celebrity endorsements.  We all have “Simons” in our lives we listen to and obey almost blindly.  Sometimes, we want to be Simon, and tell others what to do what we say.  But like Peter we have to learn to obey Jesus, and him alone.

            Folks, the fact of the matter is, we’re all playing “Simon says.”  The only question is, “Who gets to be Simon?”

                                                           Praised be Jesus Christ!