March 28, 2024

Maundy Thursday - March 28, 2024

A Reflection on John 13:1-17, 31b-35

The Rev. R. Allan McCaslin

Readings: Exod. 12:1-4, 11-14a; Psalm 116:1, 10-17; I Cor.11:23-26; John 13:1-17, 31b-35

From the Gospel according to St. John, “(Jesus said), ‘Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.’” I speak to you in the Name of God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

     Imagine what our community, our nation, let alone the world would be like if every time professing Christians gathered to celebrate the Holy Eucharist – whether celebrated according to Mainline, Non-Denominational, or Evangelical customs – Communion was not served until all present had not only washed one another’s feet, but gone out into the streets to wash the feet of the hungry, the homeless, the poor, or just anyone they met. What a different Church, what a different world this would be.

     This evening, Christians embark on what is known as “The Great Three Days” – days that commemorate the Passion (or suffering) of our Lord Jesus Christ: all that led up to his betrayal, trial, crucifixion, as well as the bewilderment of those left wondering what went wrong, what happened, and why. Yet, we don’t simply remember these events. We gather in order to recognize our own selves as active participants in all that transpired at Jerusalem and Golgotha.

Now, the downside of our observances is that we can become so familiar with them that we outright forget what lies at the heart of these days. And that heart is revealed in our reading from the Gospel according to John – not just Jesus’ words, but his actions as well: actions that if embraced by all Christians would turn this world upside down.

    See, it is in his words and actions that Jesus’ servanthood stirs human hearts and minds because in washing each other’s feet, sharing in the Lord’s Supper, and praying together we are reminded that nothing we do will have any lasting impact without love. Love is the action, the heart, and the core of all three of these days. They are an affirmation of John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave …” And tonight our journey begins with a tactile demonstration of God’s love in action, love that gives, love that challenges how things are; love that touches our souls so deeply, we and the whole world are encouraged to live differently. It is an act of love immersed in total humility. And humility is key to understanding God’s love.

     Jesus urged his followers then just as he urges his followers still today to grasp just how far God’s love, God’s giving, will go in order to redeem and change the world. And so tonight, we taste God’s love in the Last Supper and touch and demonstrate that giving love by serving one another as we wash our feet. But note that like Jesus showed us, that love and that giving is expressed in humility. Like Jesus, we kneel before our brother or sister in order to wash their feet. That action is so important. For it is in humbling ourselves that God’s love, God’s giving, begins to transform human hearts and minds because humility always leads to service. And for the Christian, love and service go hand in hand to reveal the very grace-filled and merciful inclusive essence of God. For God, both love and service are connected – you cannot have one without the other.

So Jesus says, “love one another as I have loved you”  And what is that love? It is a love that always welcomes one home even when we do behave like prodigals. It corrects when in error; it teaches that loving “as I have loved you” means feeding, clothing, welcoming both friend and alien stranger, visiting, protecting, and comforting – not just through our deeds, but through our thoughts and words as well. God’s love knows no limits and makes no distinction about who is worthy to receive it. It is a love that cares not about race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, marital or economic status, but only what abides in one’s heart and mind. It is God’s unconditional love freely given, and our Lord shows us this evening how deeply that love can profoundly change hearts and minds when it serves in humility.

That’s why Peter’s response to Jesus is so integral to our understanding of this story. He says,, “Lord, you will never wash my feet.” In other words, “I can’t let you do this because that will mean I must change how I perceive my neighbor. It means recognizing that I am no better than anyone else.” And yet, in kneeling to wash our feet – even the feet of Judas who will betray him – Jesus shows that God’s love makes no distinctions. All are welcome.

And after washing their feet, Jesus invites all present to this table to commune together - even Judas. All are present and all are welcome: even we who claim Christ’s Name but so often withhold his grace and mercy from others. God’s love still invites us to come just as we are because that’s what God’s love does: It gives over and again, and so should we!

     Jesus said, “Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another … (for) by this everyone will know you are my disciples.” Not through ritual remembrances like tonight, but through love offered in humility and humble service.

     Friends, Jesus shows us that God’s love changes people when it stoops to serve without distinction or reservation. And it will change our families, neighbors, communities, and our world when and if God’s love is offered in humility. For the truth is, tonight, Jesus shows us that love that makes a difference is love that is always a verb.

     Let us pray, “O Christ, teach us to love you, one another, and our neighbor as deeply and as humbly as you have loved us.” Amen.