Holy Thursday -- When the Greatest Became Our Servant

We're in the throes of the most unlikely Holy Week of our lives. We won't be attending church during this sacred time. But, nonetheless, I've done my best to keep the "holy" in the Lenten season and Holy Week. I've savored the oddities -- meeting and praying with others via Zoom, joining with others in 3:00 pm daily prayers, fasting and even, participating with Pope Francis when he gave an "Extraordinary Urbi et Orbi" Blessing to the world. It was awe-inspiring to see and experience.

This blessing is usually offered on Christmas Day and Easter Sunday. The popes appear on a balcony overlooking St. Peter's Square at the Vatican that is crammed with people. A brief address is given and a blessing is offered. I have been to St. Peter's Square twice for the Wednesday General Audience, once, with my husband and several years later with dear friends. The square is crowded with enthusiastic crowds. The Pope gives a brief address, offers a blessing, then gets into his Popemobile and makes some laps around St. Peter's Square. Along the way, he reaches out to the occasional baby that is being lifted up for a blessing. (This photo was taken from where we stood.)

On Friday, March 27th, the scene was completely different. No crowds. Empty square. Night was falling and it was raining. The normal pomp and ceremony of a papal event was stripped away. Alone, Pope Francis entered St. Peter's Square. He stood as an imperfect, humble priest, shepherding and praying to God on behalf of a desperate, frightened flock. (2nd photo)

He reminded us that our Lord Jesus should always be our "normal" for He is our hope and stay. A man said he and his wife had been praying for a return to normal during this time. After Pope Francis' actions on that Friday, the man's wife said the pandemic is revealing the need not to pray for a return to normal. They wanted to pray for something else -- conversion, because normal, the way life was before, will no longer do. God has not abandoned us. As Pope Francis said, "Where God is, there is life." I know that LIFE!

Today we recall Thursday of Holy Week when Jesus modeled what a Servant Leader looks like (or, should look like). Jesus -- the greatest of ALL, was servant of ALL, as He washed His disciples’ feet. He, with the towel and basin, is KING of the universe. The same hands that shaped the earth, the stars and the moon, washed away grime and filth. He wanted His disciples to know how much He loved them. Jesus knew they were about to betray and deny Him, yet He loved and served them. Such extravagant love – such excessive SERVICE.

Jesus explained why He served them: “I’m setting an example for you. You should do what I have done to you.” Jesus called them to serve, to carry on His ministry of loving and caring for people. Christ talked the talk and walked the walk. He led by example. Such love -- such service! Surely we have those in our lives who cause irritation to us -- especially in this time of "cozying up" with our families. Doesn’t it make us aware that He Who was perfect and knew no sin, could set the example for us on how to deal with the onery and irritating ones in our lives? To be like Him, we SERVE. We serve by loving, sharing and giving, for in that serving, we become like Him.

After the Last Supper, the apostles and Jesus journeyed to the Garden of Gethsemane where He asked them to pray. There He experienced His agony. Holy Thursday has a special place for me as I recall my trip to Israel and my visit to the Garden of Gethsemane. We were awed by the garden's beauty, but overcome with emotion at the rock where it is said that Jesus prayed “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” (Matt 26:37). And to pray those words ourselves, “Lord let this situation, pain, fear, agony – pass from me, NEVERTHELESS, not my will but Yours be done.". Isn't that how we should be offering up our prayers in these times that we are in right now?

Jesus prepared His disciples to carry on. Pope Francis encouraged us to carry on. I'm sure that is Jesus’ message to us, too! Today, we have the opportunity to be servants to our family who are under our roofs and servants to others outside our homes by offering our words of support and any actions that could help them. What an incredible flow of forgiveness, mercy, love, servitude and sacrifice from Jesus then, and continues to flow to us and flow through us to others today. Oh Lord, may we be your servants today -- to follow, serve and love You, and others, as You served and loved.

Holy Thursday – Maundy Thursday

Maundy comes from the Latin word “mandatum”, meaning mandated or commandment. How appropriate for our Lord’s mandate tonight: “A new command (mandate) I give you: ‘Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another’" John 13:34.

Jesus was up to His own mandate today. His time had come. His disciples were sent to prepare a Passover Meal for them. Little did the disciples know what that Passover Meal would lead to. I can only imagine, after their Passover Meal together, the shock that Jesus’ disciples had when they saw Jesus take up the basin and towel, kneel in front of them and one by one, washed their feet, calluses and all. He was their Master, not their slave.
In those days, it was the servant’s role to wash the feet of their owner’s guests. Those feet were dry, dirty, calloused and cracked because they had walked for miles in their sandals. To wash someone’s feet was truly an act of servitude and humility.

When When finished, Jesus explained, “I’m setting an example for you. You should do what I have done to you.” I wonder if the disciples finally understood. They had been hand-selected by Jesus from the crowds, so they were special. But Jesus didn’t call them so that they would enjoy an “elite” status. He called them to serve, to carry on His ministry of loving and caring for people.

At our Holy Thursday service tonight, there will be foot washing of 12 pre-selected individuals and then we will proclaim our own commitment of service to one another. We will remember Christ's love for us as we celebrate His Last Supper, where Jesus invoked the very first Holy Communion. After the Last Supper, Jesus and His disciples made a short journey to the Garden of Gethsemane where His agony would begin. Tonight, we will process to our chapel to pray.

I knew Holy Thursday would take on special meaning to me as I recall my trip in June to Israel when I visited the Garden of Gethsemane. There were mixed feelings by our travel pilgrims, inspired by the beauty of the garden and trees that dated back to Jesus’ times, but in the Sanctuary of Gethsemane was the site of the massive rock where Jesus had prayed. It was incredibly humbling to kneel and place my hand on it and realize this was where Christ prayed in agony and His sweat became great drops of blood: “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; NEVERTHELESS, not as I will, but as you will.” Matthew 26:37. To say our group was overcome with emotion, puts it mildly because many of us had arrived at that word, NEVERTHELESS, in some of our own experiences. To be willing to pray, “Lord let this situation, circumstance, pain, fear, agony – pass from me, NEVERTHELESS, not my will but Yours be done." The photos here are of two of our men, embracing each other as they could not contain the emotion of knowing what Christ had done for them. The other photos are of the garden and the rock.

Jesus watched the soldiers as they marched toward him with torches in hand. He could have called on 10,000 angels for back-up or He could flee at any time, but He was resolved -- His time had come. He waited for them to arrest Him. He would suffer illegal trials, torture, and death because of His love for you and me. He considers our eternal life with Him is worth His death. Jesus prepared His disciples to carry on. I think that’s His message to you and me, too. Today, we are the ones standing in front of people from all cultures and backgrounds, who are all suffering from their own brokenness and in need of a Savior. What an incredible flow of mercy, love, forgiveness, servitude and sacrifice that flowed from Jesus then, and continues to flow to us today. Oh Lord, please make us your servants today -- to follow, serve and love You and others, as You served and loved.