Maundy Thursday April 1, 2010 Year C RCL
Jesus, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the eternal Word who called the creation into being, washes the feet of his disciples. He has certainly talked about the fact that he is the servant of all and that we are called to be servants, and now he carries out that ministry.
Peter is shocked. “Lord, you shouldn’t be washing our feet—that’s demeaning to you.” But when Jesus tells Peter that he, Jesus, must wash him in order for Peter to have a share with him, Peter wants the Lord to wash his hands and his head. What does it mean to have a share with Jesus? Scholars tell us that it means to be in full relationship with Jesus, to participate fully in our Lord’s ministry of servanthood, and to share fully in the love of Jesus, and, indeed, in the love which characterizes that first Christian community, the Trinity. The foot washing draws us into the love that is shared by the persons of the Trinity, and into the servant ministry which shares that love with the world.
He washes their feet and then he tells them and us that that is what we are called to do for each other and for others beyond our midst. And he sums it up, “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Love is stronger than hate, stronger than fear. Love is the most transforming power we can ever hope to see. Loving and serving others is what brings in the kingdom, the reign, the shalom of Christ.
So as we share in this humble act of the washing of feet, may we feel ourselves drawn into the love and ministry of our Lord. May we share that love with each other, and may we share that love in our ministry of service to others.
Amen
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Grace Episcopal Church (Sheldon, VT) 