To read: John 13:1-17; 31b-35
New Revised Standard Version Bible,Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?" Jesus answered, "You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand." Peter said to him, "You will never wash my feet." Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no share with me." Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!" Jesus said to him, "One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you." For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, "Not all of you are clean."
After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord - and you are right, for that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.
When he had gone out, Jesus said, "Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, 'Where I am going, you cannot come.' 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."
copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the
National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.
To think about:
I
tend to be a talker. Ask any family member, friend, or parishioner. I am more than able to keep up my end of the conversation. Family gatherings at holiday times, or any time for that matter, are not usually quiet times. Four generations now gather around tables at gatherings - eating, telling "slightly" embellished tales of recent happenings, playing pinochle (a family tradition passed on from one generation to another), laughing, singing, going down memory lane and, yes, praying. We will pray together. And, if our gathering takes place over or on a Sunday, we will worship together.
At the festival of the Passover, Jesus gathers the family he had cobbled together over the past three years to share a meal. It is supposed to be a festival, but the meal turns out to be sobering...quiet...pensive &disquieting. I can imagine that, as the meal begins, it is not unlike the gatherings of my family and friends at special occasions, complete with all the conversation, laughter, chatter and storytelling.
Then it happens.
Jesus interrupts what everyone expects to happen now and does something different. What he does at this meal stops any and all conversation dead in its tracks. Jesus has everyone's attention as he puts on the towel, takes the form and function of a servant, and begins to wash the feet of his disciples. Besides Jesus, only Simon Peter says anything at all, and he utters only three sentences. Jesus is serious. He is firm. He is a man, he is God, on a mission and he will not be distracted. He is on his way to the cross. Today, Maundy Thursday, so are we.
To pray:
Loving and merciful God, call us to a time of quiet this day and turn our attention to you so that in your presence we may learn from you. Open our hearts to hear deeply your new commandment to love one another. Bestow upon us the courage to live out this command so that others may know you as their Teacher and Lord. Amen.
Assistant to the Bishop
Northern Great Lakes Synod