Maundy Thursday in the City

Nancy Pelosi and Marc Andrus (Chron photo)

Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Episcopal Bishop Marc Andrus washed the feet of immigrant children at St. John the Evangelist Episcopal Church, San Francisco.

Foot washing on Maundy Thursday is one of Christianity's oldest traditions and derives from Christ's command ("mandate") to perform this humbling act in service of one other [John 13]. The Lord Himself kicked off the practice:

“You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you."

Initially I thought that Nancy Pelosi's opponents were being much too reflexively critical; by washing immigrant children's feet she appeared to be performing a commendable act of humility. But it turned out that she was using this ceremony

to talk about passing HR15 - bipartisan immigration legislation that her office says would "reduce the deficit by nearly $1 trillion, secure our borders, unite our families, protect our workers and provide an earned pathway to citizenship."

Politicians, like the poor, will always be with us, but at least the poor know when to stop talking.