St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church, Owings Mills MD
April 14, 2022
Maundy Thursday
Exodus 12:1-14
Psalm 116:1, 10-17
1 Corinthians 11:23-26
John 13:1-17, 31b-35
In a Time of Turmoil, Remembrance and Service
For a long time, Jesus had predicted his fate, trying to prepare his disciples for all that was going to happen in Jerusalem, during the days around Passover, in a time of turmoil.
But, you know how it is, right?
Jesus’ closest friends would not – or could not – accept that the one they had come to know and love as Lord was going to suffer and die.
But, with the city outside in turmoil, Jesus and his disciples gathered around the table for what everyone must have realized would be their last supper together.
The hard truth was sinking in.
It would have been understandable to simply sit for a while in the terrible sadness of it all, but instead Jesus the great teacher uses this precious opportunity to get across a few last, most important lessons.
At this last supper with his friends, Jesus takes and blesses bread and wine and promises that he will always be with them - always be with us - when we gather together around the table to remember him.
And, as we heard this evening, Jesus also washes the feet of his disciples, an act of service so lowly that Peter, reasonably enough, is shocked, and insists that he simply will not allow it.
The fisherman says flat out, “You will never wash my feet.”
But Jesus patiently explains that this is how it must be – this is how it must be if Peter and the others want to be part of Jesus, part of this community.
Hearing that, Peter, showing some wisdom, quickly gives in, enthusiastically inviting Jesus to wash not just his feet, but his whole body.
When the foot-washing was complete, Jesus gives the command – the mandatum - that gives Maundy Thursday its name: the command that we are to love one another as Jesus loves us.
And this love is not merely a nice warm feeling.
No, this love is action – this love is expressed by offering lowly service – this love is shared by washing feet.
Jesus the great teacher managed to get these lessons across, because despite all the turmoil of that night and the days ahead, despite the heartbreak of the cross and the wonder of the empty tomb, despite all of that and much more to come, the disciples remembered these most important lessons and passed them down through the generations, all the way to us here this evening.
My sense is that during our own time of turmoil, especially the many months when we were forced apart, when we could not gather around the table as Christians have done for two millennia - my sense is that we have come to appreciate the Bread – and soon, the Wine - more than ever.
Shocked out of our familiar routines, we recognize more clearly that Jesus really is present in the bread and wine, really is present when we remember him.
And, our own time of turmoil has also revealed so much need all around us – making us more acutely aware of just how many feet need washing.
So, in our time of turmoil, you found creative ways to continue serving the people at Paul’s Place and the Community Crisis Center.
You have been caring for each other with even more tenderness – more calls made, more cards sent, more prayers offered.
In our time of turmoil, we have been looking at new ways of being a servant church, new ways to love the people beyond our doors and walls.
And now we are on the cusp of welcoming Afghan refugees to their new home, offering loving service to long-suffering people whose worn-out feet have brought them so far from home.
Near the end of this evening’s service, we will follow the ancient practice of “stripping” the altar, putting away most of the furnishings and ornaments, symbolizing the end of the Last Supper, and preparing for Good Friday.
We will conclude by bringing the Bread, the Body of Christ, here to the garden.
I invite you to stay for at least a few quiet minutes of prayer and reflection.
Remember Jesus, his teachings, his example, his sacrifice – remember his command to love one another - and recommit to washing feet.
Amen.
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