Maundy Thursday

Exodus 12:1-14a

1 Corinthians 11:23-26

JOHN 13:1-15

Maundy Thursday, 2005

Sermon – March 24, 2005

“And during supper Jesus…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.”

In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

“The only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father, through whom all things were made” 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 began to wash the feet of those with him – those who had traveled with him through his ministry. He washed the feet of those who would go with him to the garden. He washed the feet of the one who had already made up his mind to betray him. Jesus knew it and washed his feet anyway. He washed the feet of those who would flee. He washed the feet of those who would disappear into history. He washed the feet of those who would become heroes of the faith. He washed the feet of the “beloved disciple.” He even managed to wash the feet of the impulsive Peter, who would deny him, proclaim him and die for him.

In Jesus’ day, almost everyone walked everywhere they went. Heat in the summer and freezing temperatures in the winter, dusty or muddy roads and open sandals meant that when they arrived their feet were sweaty or frozen, dirty, tired and sore. Washing them made them feel better. Washing your guests’ feet in Jesus’ day was a sign of hospitality, of thoughtfulness, of caring. It was an act of ministry. But it was not done by the master of the house. It was done by a slave or another menial. This is the problem – for Peter and for us

Jesus had just given sight to a man born blind, raised Lazarus from the dead and been hailed by the crowd as he entered Jerusalem. He was healer, life giver, teacher, and master. Now he is washing feet. How inappropriate for him to be doing this. How embarrassing for the disciples and us for him to be kneeling before them or us, seeing and touching our feet, and washing them

Our feet are very personal. They may be short or long, wide or narrow, smooth and well formed or arthritic or badly worn and scarred. They may be attractive; they may not be. They may be clean and without odor. They may not be so clean after a long day and just might have a bit of smell. Whatever they are, they are ours. They are our connection to the earth, our way of grounding, our way of getting around. They tell a lot about us and our journeys. Exposing them to someone is personal. Having someone wash them, in our day, is very strange and even a bit embarrassing. Having Jesus wash his friends’ feet must have seemed equally strange and even embarrassing to them. My guess is that Peter was not the only who was feeling uncomfortable that night. He was, though, the only one to blurt it out.

If we put it this way, we are not just talking about something quaint and offbeat that Jesus did that last night with his friends that we may or may not repeat. We are seeing a part of God’s reality being revealed. Isaiah has God say “for my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways.” But here in this action, Jesus reveals God’s ways and God’s thoughts. He invites his friends and us to leave the broken human reality of this world and come into God’s reality.

In the alternative gospel reading for tonight from Luke’s Gospel, a dispute arose among those who were gathered as to which one was to be regarded as greatest. The world’s reality, says Jesus, is that “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them and those in authority over them are called benefactors.” Yes, the washing of feet was an act of hospitality, of thoughtfulness, of caring. It was an act of ministry. But the master did not do it for his guest. He ordered a slave to do it. The order and status were made very clear. Everybody and everything had a correct place and knew it. If anyone challenged the status, there would be consequences. Humiliation, servitude, control, authority, rank, greatness and lowliness were carefully observed and enforced. One was in charge, the master – the one who was host, owned and controlled things, gave the orders, was greeted with proper respect and bowed to, the one who had pride and thought highly of him or herself. One was the guest. The one who had been invited, but was expected to be grateful, careful in what they said, and keep the rules. One was the menial – the lesser, the unimportant one, the one without voice or respect, the one who bowed and obeyed in silence and knew embarrassment and humiliation.

But also in Luke’s Gospel, Jesus says that God’s reality, God’s community is not like that. “But not so with you; but rather the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.” In tonight’s Gospel, Jesus says: “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.”

The washing of the feet is not just a nice act to be repeated periodically to teach and show humility. It is an act that shows the quality of the community of God. It demonstrates a community of mutual service and respect, of consideration and acceptance, of love and equality of status. It no longer matters whether the feet are beautiful or not, large or small, healthy or crippled, clean or dirty from a day of toil, they are the feet of one created in the image of God, of the beloved of God for whom God was willing to give all to redeem. Haughtiness and pride, self-consciousness and embarrassment are gone, replaced by respect, caring, ministry and love for self and others. All are welcomed and given care – those who have sinned and those who will sin, those who are leaders and teachers and those who follow and learn have been welcomed into God’s kingdom.

The reality of the world is one of status, pride, power to control, shame, self consciousness, humiliation, powerlessness, brutal force and death. Judas, Caiaphas and Pilate would soon demonstrate the reality and ways the world.

Jesus said “I have come that you might have life and have it abundantly.” Tonight Jesus reveals God’s way and the way of that life. He shows us the quality of God’s community. Jesus invites us to enter into God’s reality and God’s community that we may have life.

Amen.

Fr. William O. Breedlove

St. Barnabas Episcopal Church

Monmouth Junction, New Jersey