Sermon on April 9, 2020: Maundy Thursday

Tonight we hear of what took place on the night before Jesus died for us. We hear that, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. A group of friends is gathered to share a meal before Passover, and one of them washes the others’ feet. On its surface, there is nothing very remarkable going on. There are no signs or wonders; no one is healed, or called out of their graves. There is bread and wine, and the washing of dirty feet.

This is a story that easily could have slid into the forgotten past, without trace or memory. Instead, it became the story that shaped the course of Christian worship. In a mysterious way, every time that the Church assembles to tell it, somehow Christ is present, and we take part in his meal. A meal that enables us to love one another.

Maundy Thursday is a story about love; in other words, Maundy Thursday shows us what love is really about: to freely give of yourself for the good of another. To serve another rather than to be served. Jesus said,

“I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.”

And how did he love them? By washing their feet: an act of lowly service. It’s an act that we normally perform on this night, showing our obedience to Christ’s way of love. And it’s hard to have to refrain from it on this night, as we also refrain from gathering socially with one another for a time. Strangely, being obedient to Christ’s call to love one another in this time requires that we have the discipline to be distant from each other.

Not everyone is disappointed that we won’t be washing other’s feet this year. It is, admittedly, a pretty awkward ceremony. Not only does it carry the risk of getting my hands dirty, but even worse, it means that someone else will know just how dirty my feet are! Indeed, I am sure that many of us, including me, are relieved to be spared of that embarrassment this evening. But what we need to hear tonight is that Our Lord is not embarrassed of us. He is not embarrassed by our bodies. He is not reluctant to draw near. When Jesus took hold of Peter’s foot, he knew what he would find. We are fully known; our lives are already transparent to God, even if we wish that they weren’t. There is no such thing as social distance from the God of the universe. Who knows who we are, fully, and yet has chosen to draw near to us anyway.

By washing his disciples’ feet, Jesus taught them what it meant to love. He showed them that it was more than just a tender feeling, or a tolerant acceptance. He showed them his love by getting down into the dirt with them, by getting involved in their mess, by seeing their shame, by touching their dirty feet in order to make them clean. He showed that he was not afraid to draw close to them; that he would serve them no matter how dirty they were. 

That is the love that he teaches and shows to us. He is not afraid of drawing close, and he will not be surprised by what he finds. And if we let him do it, then we will be made clean. 

We are called to love each other as Christ loved us. How did he love us? By serving us; by washing our feet, and washing away our sin; by drawing near to us, even when we would want to keep him at an arm’s length. That’s the love with which he loves us, the love that we are called to give to one another, to show each and every person we encounter. Every single one. And only if we are willing to listen to his command, to show this love to one another, only then will the world will know that we are his disciples. And if we do this, then we will truly be a light to the world, to the glory of his Name.

Amen.