Maundy Thursday (April 2). Love, as Jesus loves you

Prepare to Listen.  Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
 
Prayerfully Read John 13:1-11
Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father.  Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.  2The devil had already decided that Judas son of Simon Iscariot would betray Jesus.  And during supper 3Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands and that he had come from God and was going to God, 4got up from supper, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself.  5Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him.  6He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”  7Jesus answered, “You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”  8Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.”  Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.”  9Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head.”  10Jesus said to him, “One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean.  And you are clean, though not all of you.”  11For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, “Not all of you are clean.”
 
Prayerfully Wonder
John’s account of Jesus’ last Passover with his disciples is distinct.  There’s no breaking of bread or passing the cup.  Instead, there’s a story of Jesus taking up the role of slave, washing his disciples’ feet.  Liturgical churches reenact this story on the Thursday before Good Friday.  Which is why we interrupt the story of Jesus’ trial to think about Jesus’ command (the meaning of maundy), given verbally and in Jesus’ action of washing the disciples’ feet.
 
The story begins: “Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.”  The command comes near the end.  “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another.  Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another” (13:34).  Maundy Thursday is an in-your-face reminder of this new command.  Washing the disciples’ feet helps us understand what Jesus meant when he said, love just as I loved you.
 
There’s nothing pleasant about washing people’s dirty, smelly feet.  It was an unpleasant task, relegated to slaves and disciples.  But Jesus’ disciples didn’t do it.  Without a word of rebuke, Jesus set the example, becoming their slave by washing their grubby, smelly feet.  Then he commanded, ‘Love one another in this way.’  Take on menial, unpleasant tasks, ones that help the other feel refreshed and loved.
 
Washing feet isn’t necessary today.  There’re other not-so-nice tasks we can do.  Like the friend who sacrifices her time to buy and deliver groceries to home-bound immigrants.  She’s loving them as Jesus loves her.  What can you do to love, in this basic, not-very-pleasant way that Jesus loves you?
 
Prayerfully Respond
Lord, give me the courage, the stamina, the humility to love as you love me.  Amen.
 
Live obediently.  Love, as Jesus loves you.