John S. Warner
Maundy Thursday

Exodus 12:1-14
Psalm 116:1, 10-17
1 Corinthians 11:23-26
John 13:1-17, 31b-35

Leading by Example

I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you should love one another. (John 13:34)

The year was 1971. I was a freshman in college. President Nixon had told the American people that the “end was in sight” for the Vietnam War; however the war would continue for another four years. 1971 was also the year that John Lennon released “Imagine” considered by some to be one of the greatest songs of all time. The lyrics were inspired by Lennon’s hope for a more peaceful world. He asks us to join him in imagining a world where there is no greed or hunger because of the generosity of the “brotherhood of man.”

According to today’s Gospel’s reading, Jesus gave us essentially the same message two thousand years earlier when he gave his disciples and all that followed in their footsteps his new commandment to love one another. However, only words were not enough to communicate his message. He showed them. He energized the words. He rose from the table, tied a towel around his waist, kneeled down, one by one, before his disciples and began to wash the dusty and sore feet of his disciples. The foot-washing that Jesus performed was not a ceremonial function; it had a practical purpose. Although foot washing was customary prior to preparation for supper, it would have been scandalous for anyone other than a slave to perform this ritual. It was one of the most demeaning tasks that anyone could do. Jesus’ disciples would not dream about lowering themselves to do it. However, Rabbi Jesus assumed the role of a slave or servant and turned custom upon its head.

John’s description of Jesus washing the disciples’ feet is not repeated in any other Gospel. Luke does provide a “behind the scene” argument among the disciples which leads to a similar retort by Jesus. The subject of the dispute was which disciple would be considered by the community as being the greatest—most worthy to sit by Jesus in his heavenly court. Jesus responds, “…the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like the one who serves.” (Luke 22:26b).

The foot-washing deed performed by Jesus should not be perceived as just an act of humble service. Jesus uses this simple symbolic act of foot-washing, as he did his parables, to communicate to the observer a deeper truth. This was the day of the preparation for the Passover feast; the day that the Passover lamb is to be slain. This simple act of foot-washing is indelibly linked to the death of Jesus, the once-for-all perfect sacrifice.

By the time of this meal, Jesus knew what future events laid before him. He knew his hour had come; he knew he would be betrayed and would suffer a painful death. Yet, he takes the opportunity to wash the feet of his disciples. The water that he used to wash off the grime of the road would soon be replaced by his crucified body and blood that would take away the sin of the world. And Jesus leaves us with the commandment to love one another as he loved us.

Jesus’ use of the word “love” isn’t how we frequently use it today. It’s not about flowers and chocolate, hugs and kisses, or lust. In Jesus’ day, “love” meant “service.” Although the disciples would have questioned Jesus’ demeaning actions of foot-washing, each would have defined the act as one of love—one of service. It entails an act of ministry.

I recall the difficulty I had when the Commission on Ministry asked me to define my ministry, my call to serve, when I was discerning a call to become a deacon. You see, I always perceived my vocation, my work with the mentally ill and developmentally disabled as my ministry. Was I wrong? It was almost as if ministry, service to others, was an activity separate from the world and only deemed worthy if the task came under the umbrella of the church.

I mentor a group of students in a convocational program held at St. Augustine’s entitled Education for Ministry. The name of this course has always proven problematic when recruiting new members. Although many individuals have discerned a call to become a deacon or priest while in this course, its primary purpose is to equip Christians’ service to the world.

Earlier this month, I watched the DVD, Amazing Grace. The movie is based on the life of William Wilberforce, a British politician. He was considered the greatest social reformer of the 18th and 19th centuries. Inspired to action by John Newton, a penitent monk, former slave trader and author of the famous hymn Amazing Grace; he introduced legislation into Parliament and fought a 20 year legislative battle for the abolition of slave trade and, eventually, slavery in the British Empire. This achievement almost didn’t happen. Early in his political career, he had an evangelical conversion experience and sought to dedicate his future to God’s service as a priest. Newton and other friends convinced Wilberforce the he could serve his God and his country by being a dynamic force in Parliament working for social change.

Last Sunday, we heard from the Letter of Paul to the Philippians that Jesus emptied himself of self will and replaced the emptiness with God’s will. He emptied himself of a need to dominate and to wield power and assumed a life of servitude. He asks the same of us: to not look toward your own interests but toward the interests of others. When Jesus directs us to love (serve) another in the same manner as he loved (served) them, he is not expecting us to leave the world and enter a clerical order. However, like William Wilberforce, he is asking us to embrace servanthood in whatever place or moment and among those we love and those who are strangers. Jesus loved us freely and served others sacrificially; he expects us to love freely and serve others sacrificially.

Amen.