Jesus knew that the time was fast approaching for him to suffer and die, “that his hour had come when he should depart out of this world to the Father.” What would you have done if you had been in his place and knew you were about to die?
He had a banquet prepared—a last meal with his closest disciples, the ones who had spent an intensive three years learning everything they could of his teachings. Yet after all of that time, they were still unaware of how everything would end. They may still have thought at that supper that Jesus was going to overthrow the Roman government, freeing Israel from centuries of oppression.
But Jesus was not that kind of Messiah. His kingdom was not of this world. All along he had taught other-worldly things: “The one who would be great among you must be your servant.” “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” “Love your enemies; do good to those who hate you.” These are not the kinds of words that characterize earthly rulers. Yet the disciples still did not get the point, and they would not get the point until Pentecost.
Our Lord used the Last Supper to get his message across one more time. He did it not first with words, but with actions. Our actions always speak louder than our words! He girded himself with a towel, like a common servant, and proceeded to wash his disciples’ feet.
What a strange thing for a leader to do, especially the Messiah. They were accustomed, however, to Jesus “coloring outside the lines,” but this was too much for Peter, who protested. Jesus sounds not a little perturbed with Peter. When will he get the point?! “If I do not wash your feet, you have no part in me.” Peter, duly chastised, effuses, “Then wash my hands and my head as well.” “I only want to wash your feet, Peter.”
When he’s finished, he tells them that he has set an example for them, that they should be servants as well. Later, he gives them a mandate, a commandment, from which this day gets its name, Maundy: “A new commandment I give to you, that you should love one another as I have loved you.”
What is his love? It’s a servant love. It’s love not as feeling or emotion, but as action.
Signs of this servant love are seen in countless ways in this parish. One of our most amazing examples is our Episcopal Thrift House, under the capable and inspiring leadership of Kathy Powers. It’s a completely volunteer organization with some 70 volunteers. The Thrift House takes our cast-off items and sells them at less than bargain basement prices. Kathy tells me that many items are just a dollar. With the money they collect they pay the rent for the shop as well as utilities and all of their profits go to helping those in need. Last year they were able to give $61,000 away to needy projects and this year it looks like it’s going to be about $64,000. Their fiscal year ends the end of this month.
That mission takes a lot of work and it takes people willing to make a commitment to be at the shop at particular times on particular days. The volunteers all say they enjoy doing it, but I know there’s sacrifice involved in that ministry as is the case with any ministry. Our Episcopal Thrift House is servant love in action.
In the 2000 years that have passed since Jesus walked the earth, we haven’t evolved into a society that lives according to Jesus’ commandment to love others as he has loved us. In fact, our society may be more self-serving than any before it. Television, movies, advertisements, social media, business practices, for the most part, all tout the same message: Happiness and fulfillment come from serving yourself, having it your own way. The message received is, “It’s truly more blessed to receive than to give.” The one who strives to live the opposite message is suspect: Why is she really doing that? What’s in it for him? Throughout the ages there are ample examples even in the Church of leaders who are in it for what they can get, rather than what they can give.
Yet think of the people you most respect, the ones you most admire. Think of the people whose lives seem the fullest. I suspect they’re the ones who love in the way our Lord taught us to love. They’re the ones who love with a servant love, the kind of love we see expressed by our volunteers at the Thrift House, and by so many others in this parish who give so unselfishly of their time, talent, and treasure. They’re the ones who seem to have the most “life” in them, even though their major pursuit is not getting, but giving. Jesus’ command to love promises of fuller life.
The prayer of St. Francis asks our Lord to grant the grace to live as he commanded and is a wonderful example of this servant love:
Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.
Sermon preached by the Rev. Fredrick A. Robinson
Church of the Redeemer
Sarasota Florida
Maundy Thursday 18 April 2019