Maundy Thursday 03/28/24

Maundy Thursday
March 28, 2024
Sermon

In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Welcome to the holiest of Thursday’s. Tonight, marks the beginning of the Easter Triduum, the most solemn and sacred time in the Christian liturgical year, where we suspend the ordinary routine of our lives to fully immerse ourselves in the meaning of the Incarnation. It is a three-day journey through the events that lead up to Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection, and each one of these days brings its own joy and sorrow. 
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Last week, on Passion Sunday, we celebrated Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem with shouts of Hosanna and the waving of palms. For Jesus’ followers, this was a time of joyful recognition.  It signaled the coming of their long-awaited Messiah who was going to restore the Kingdom of Israel and bring the Jewish people out from under the oppressive reign of Roman occupation. 

(Pause) But fast forward several days and the momentum shifts. As John sets the scene of the Last Supper, before Jesus departs from the world, he wants to leave his disciples with something to show the full extent of his love.   He does this through the humble act of washing their feet. 

In Biblical custom, the act of foot washing was seen as the practice of hospitality.  Sandals were the primary footwear, and the roads were dusty and, quite frankly, disgusting considering that livestock accompanied travelers wherever they went.  It was considered a lowly task, and certainly not one befitting a Messiah. But to understand the meaning of the foot washing that took place in the Upper Room on this night, we must consider Jesus’ intimate knowledge and love of his Father. Throughout his ministry, Jesus is portrayed as willfully moving towards his crucifixion, aware that he would suffer an excruciating death... yet he was committed to fulfilling his mission as part of God’s plan for saving humankind.

This was contrary to any notion the disciples had about how a Messiah behaves. So, imagine their bewilderment when Jesus began to remove his outer garments and knelt on the floor of the Upper Room and began to wash their feet.  Tonight, they are about to learn the meaning of Jesus’ words when he said, “my children, I will be with you only a little longer. Where I am going, you cannot come”.   The Gospels remind us that throughout his ministry, Jesus tried to forewarn his disciples of those things prophesied about his death, but in the Upper Room that night, Peter’s question, “Lord, where are you going?” reflects their confusion as well as their preconceived notions about who they thought the Messiah was. Clearly, in their limited understanding, their Messiah was more temporal than divine...more kingly than humble. But, it is on this night that Jesus, fully aware of his impending betrayal and death, demonstrates an extraordinary act of love and humility by washing his disciples' feet. What a shock to the disciples to see their Master posturing himself as a humble servant. 

 We often refer to this day as Maundy Thursday.  The word "Maundy" comes from the Latin word "Mandatum," meaning "command" or "mandate."  When Jesus washed his disciple's feet, his call to love one another was not merely a suggestion, but a mandate that to be a part of him and the Father, we must show love to one another.  It is so literally hard to love everyone, isn’t it?  But it is what Jesus call us to do. Remember, that on this night, Jesus already knew Judas would betray him and that Peter would deny him, but he extended them both the same gesture of love. When Jesus offered to wash his disciples’ feet, it was so opposite to their way of thinking that some initially declined his offer. Foot washing required humility on the part of both parties: the one willing to wash another’s feet and the one willing to have their feet washed.  Jesus was dispelling any notion of rank or caste among his disciples.

Foot washing is an act of intimacy. When Jesus washed his disciples' feet, he did it because these were his beloved friends that had followed him and believed in him, and he desperately wanted them to get the message that they must love one another to thrive. It is a reality in our own lives that when we are met with sadness or tragedy it is love that helps sustain us during our grief. This is one of the messages that Jesus was trying to impart to his followers. He knew that his departure from this world would require a strong community of support and love amongst his disciples and followers.

Jesus mandates us to love; but not only to love, but to love as Christ loves.  And that does not involve feelings.  More than a just a feeling or emotion, it is a choice.  We can choose to accept Christ’s gift of love and share it with others, or we can choose to reject it, but this is the point of Jesus’ commandment...to be a part of Christ, we need to choose love. This new commandment to love one another is the mark of Christian discipleship. It is not merely a strategy for survival, but also a way to build and expand the community of faith. 

In a few minutes we will be inviting those who wish to come forward to participate in the foot washing.  I don’t know about you, but I find this a difficult thing to do for several reasons. With very few exceptions, feet are not the most attractive parts of our bodies. Our feet, as we age, bear the signs of a lifetime of abuse. So, there is an element of shame in letting others see our feet, let alone wash them. It also brings a level of intimacy and closeness that is uncomfortable for some...i know it is for me. I remember the first time I had my feet washed, I was dreading the prospect. I was attending Maundy Thursday service at St. Augustine’s. I did not know the woman that was washing my feet, (pause) until she washed my feet. It is hard to explain the connection that happened between us, but the care with which she took to touch and wash and dry my feet, however uncomfortable it was for me, drew me close to this person. It helped me experience Christ’s love.  It was her choice, and it was my choice that we should be linked to one another through this simple act, and I won’t forget her. 

As this evening presses on, we move from the Upper Room to the Garden of Gethsemane to the eventuality of Jesus’ death on the Cross. But let us linger in this holy space for just a little while as we embrace the full weight of what it means to give love and receive love through Christ, because we know what tomorrow brings.  Amen.