Maundy Thursday

From Joy to Desolation

I sometimes feel that this night is the strangest in the whole year. A night which starts with rejoicing at a meal, a meal which would become so important, the most important thing Christ called us to do in remembrance of him. We can feel the sense of fellowship as they had the Last Supper, the same sense of fellowship we who have just shared in the Passover meal have enjoyed.

We can only imagine how the disciples felt, for surely they must have been amazed when Jesus put aside his garments, girded himself with a towel, poured water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet. He began to wash them—the feet of his followers who’d walked many miles with him— men’s and women’s feet, for I do not believe that only men shared in the Last Supper.

He knelt down to wash these feet, the Son of Man knelt to wash the feet with humility and love and perhaps deep sadness, for we do not know what was going through his mind as he held those feet, and indeed what must have been going through the disciples minds. Could the disciples imagine where their feet would be taking them in the years to come?

For the disciples would be walking into the midst of God’s people to proclaim the Good News, to offer comfort and healing, to teach and preach, to convict and challenge. The same Good News as we are now called upon to share.

Shortly twelve members of the congregation will have their feet washed, twelve people representing the whole congregation, what will be going through their minds, Andrew’s mind and my mind?

How seriously will we take those words we have just heard ‘all men will know that your are my disciples if you love one another’. Are we truly willing to be Christ’s disciples today, to follow in the footsteps of those first disciples, going into the midst of God’s people, being today’s missionaries and going beyond our comfort zone?

This morning at the Cathedral, the Bishops, clergy including Andrew and myself, renewed our vows, our commitment to serving our Lord and walking in his footsteps. Are we willing to go where the Word takes us?

This service tonight takes us literally from the sharing of a meal and the washing of feet to the naked image of a stripped table, an empty church, and finally into the still darkness of Gethsemane, depicted by the Sacrament lying in the darkened Lady Chapel, to be watched and prayed over all night. Our liturgy tonight so full of ritual, symbol, and Word - and that is what moves us, what makes us truly the people of God.

Of course, the washing of the feet goes much deeper than just having our feet washed, it is a sign of deep spiritual cleansing. We are called tonight to be cleansed, to clear out all the baggage we carry which can separate us from God, we let this liturgy with all its images help us think about our relationship with God, our relationship with God’s people and our ministry among them.

Of course tonight also focuses on Judas’ betrayal. What made Judas betray our Lord even after sharing the bread and wine and after having his own feet washed by Jesus? We can all be tempted, all called away from the truth. When were we last tempted, and how did we respond. Probably it was when we felt overwhelmed by the day to day problems in life. Perhaps we moved away from an opportunity to serve, to include, to reconcile.

Jesus also moved that night, for he moved towards darkness. The Scriptures focus first on those gathered at the table. A meal shared, exactly as many had been shared before — until, and that is the moment, when Jesus said, “This is my body. This cup is the new covenant in my blood.” and the Paschal mystery began to unravel.

Jesus moved from the table to a singular act of servant hood, an act of great humility. Taking the feet of each individual—connecting in an intimate and personal way with each one, Jesus pours the water, cleanses these feet. Somehow an image of the early encounters when he baptised, and his own Baptism by John the Baptist in the Jordan.

I can understand how Peter felt. His desire to be washed all over by Christ, in the hope that more washing would bring him into closer contact with God. We all yearn to feel truly alongside God, but its not our feet being washed but our souls being transformed which brings us into that closer communion. At the end of the day it is the way we serve Our Lord not the actions others do to us.

From joy of that Upper Room Christ led them into the darkness of the night, into the dark expectation of his pending suffering and death. In this darkness, he will pray. In this darkness, he will trust in God’s promise. If we take following Jesus seriously, if we accept the role of a servant, we too, at one time or another may move into Gethsemane, we may be sorely tested.

At the end of this service we too will be in darkness, the altar will naked, the Aumbry will be empty, there will be no light, no sound just us, guarding Christ’s body in the Lady Chapel. We’ll be left in darkness. But this darkness will not be without hope. It will be a darkness of solitude, of prayer, of remembrance, and most of all of repentance. A time to renew our commitment to Christ, to cleanse our souls as we journey through Good Friday towards what we know lies ahead.

Let us pray

Lord Jesus Christ, as you come to us in the communion of bread and wine made holy for the life of the world, may it give us strength to follow in humility and love, and the courage to face the darkness of death whenever it may come. Lord you can be glorified in the weak and the vulnerable of this world; let us trust in that alone.

Amen.