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. The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. Then 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. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus answered, “You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.” Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” Jesus 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.” For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, “Not all of you are clean.” After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.
I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But it is to fulfill the scripture, ‘The one who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’ I tell you this now, before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe that I am he. Very truly, I tell you, whoever receives one whom I send receives me; and whoever receives me receives him who sent me.” After saying this Jesus was troubled in spirit, and declared, “Very truly, I tell you, one of you will betray me.” The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he was speaking. One of his disciples—the one whom Jesus loved—was reclining next to him; Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. So while reclining next to Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?” Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” So when he had dipped the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot. After he received the piece of bread, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “Do quickly what you are going to do.” Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. Some thought that, because Judas had the common purse, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the festival”; or, that he should give something to the poor. So, after receiving the piece of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night.
When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’ I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
-John 13:1-35
Self-Guided Retreat
About Tonight's Meditation Prompts
In The Holy Thursday Revolution Beatrice Bruteau says the whole of the world order is turned upside down by this mandatum novum (new commandment). The mandate to “love one another” is a revolution of stance, a paradigm shift against all instincts, a movement from the powers and politics of domination to resistance by sharing, by loving, and by communion. Can human beings change? she asks. Bruteau makes the case that, in fact, it is nature itself that demands change. We can change.
You and me? We're not going to “get it” in this one hour of one night during a busy Holy Week. But we can begin tonight, in turning turning and turning again in attitude, in continual conversion toward loving one another, and making the new commandment a daily practice, consciously meeting the challenges that arise day to day.
Tonight's retreat begins (Meditation One / Introit) with layered images of baptism, pilgrimage, promised land, and fullness, from Bruno Barnhart.
A second baptismal image (Meditation Two/ Insight) comes from Origen who realizes that by longing for companionship, he also asks for baptism into the death of Jesus. “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” And they said to him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized. Mark 10:38-39.
Augustine (Meditation Three / Integration) rhapsodizes about what living the great commandment might look like in community.
Gail Ramshaw gets the practical, succinct Last Word.
“Love one another.” Ever trying, Suzanne
Jesus Washes the Feet of the Disciples, Italian Mosaic Artist, c.1210
Miscellany
Where charity and love are, there is God.
The Love of Christ has gathered us as one. Let us rejoice and be glad in him. Let us fear and love the living God And in purity of heart let us love one another
Where charity and love are, there is God. When therefore we are gathered together
Let us not be divided in spirit. Let bitter strife and discord cease between us; Let Christ our God be present in our midst.
Where charity and love are, there is God.
With all the blessed may we see for ever Thy face in glory, Jesus Christ our God. Joy that is infinite and undefiled For all the ages of eternity.
-At the Feet Washing, Maundy Thursday, Western Rite The Oxford Book of Prayer, George Appleton, ed. (sometimes this antiphon and hymn is sung in procession with gifts for the poor)
The Wisdom of God that restrains the untamed fury of the waters that are above the firmament, that sets a bridle on the deep and keeps back the seas, now pours water into a basin; and the Master washes the feet of his servants.
-Byzantine liturgy (quoted from LTP Triduum vol 1)
Love knows how to take a basin and a towel, how to stoop and meet the needs of the disciples, how to meet the needs of the world. A person will never be at home in the Christian church until he or she learns how to be at home with a basin and a towel.
I am talking about having a sort of flexibility, so that when needs arise we can see the need in our imagination and leap to the need as a fish leaps to the bait, eager to be of service.
-N. Gordon Cosby Seized by the Power of a Great Affection
Jesus Washes Feet of Disciples, Unknown Illustrator of Petrus Comestor's Bible Historiale, 1372
Meditation One (Introit) the water flows gleaming
John's account of the supper begins as Jesus removed his garments, pours water into a basin, and washes the feet of his disciples. This baptismal gesture signifies a passage, an entering, an initiation, a new beginning. Our journey arrives, like a pilgrimage, at its goal, and we must be washed for the solemn meal. We have arrived at another threshold, like the Jordan of John the Baptist. The water flows gleaming over our feet as we pass over into this new country. Here within this room the life and teaching of Jesus will pool to a fullness. “I have called you friends.”
-Bruno Barnhart OSB Cam. 1931-2015 The Good Wine pp.120-121
Meditation Two (Insight) my feet are dirty
Jesus come, my feet are dirty, You have become a servant for my sake, so fill your basin with water; come, wash my feet. I know that I am bold in saying this, but your own words have made me fearful:”If I do not wash your feet, you will have no companionship with me.” Wash my feet, then, so that I may be your companion!
But what am I saying: “Wash my feet”? Peter could say these words, for all that need washing were his feet. For the rest, he was completely clean. I must be made clean with that other washing of which you said: “I have a baptism with which I must be baptized.”
-Origen 184/185 – 253/254 From “A Homily on Isaiah 5:2,” translation by Agnes Cunningham quoted from LTP Triduum vol. 1 p.34
Meditation Three (Integration) nothing left to desire
When we love as Jesus loved us we become new people, heirs of the new covenant and singers of the new song. …
And so all her members make each other's welfare their common care. When one member suffers, all the members suffer too, and if one member is glorified all the rest rejoice. They hear and obey the Lord's words: ' A new commandment I give you, that you love one another,' not as people love one another for their own selfish ends, nor merely on account of their common humanity, but because they are all gods and children of the Most High. They love one another as God loves them so that they may be brothers and sisters of his only Son. He will lead them to the goal that alone will satisfy them, where all their desires will be fulfilled. For when God is all in all, there will be nothing left to desire.
This love is the gift of the Lord who said: 'As I have loved you so you also must love one another.' His object in loving us, then, was to enable us to love each other. By loving us himself, our mighty head has linked us all together as members of his own body, bound to one another by the tender bond of love.
-Augustine 354-430 Commentary on the Gospel of John
The Last Word
To the extent that egocentrism is proclaimed as both the route and the destination of life's journey, the biblical message of service is extraordinarily countercultural. Christ relinquished divinity to become a slave. The last will be first; get down on your knees and wash someone's feet.
-Gail Ramshaw Treasures Old and New: Images in the Lectionary pp. 360-361
O Lord Jesus Christ, thou didst not come to the world to be served, but also surely not to be admired or in that sense to be worshiped. Thou wast the way and the truth – and it was followers only thou didst demand. Arouse us therefore if we have dozed away into this delusion, save us from the error of wishing to admire thee instead of being willing to follow thee and to resemble thee.
-Søren Kierkegaard 1813-1855 The Prayers of Søren Kierkegaard p.81
The Lord Jesus, after he had supped with his disciples and had washed their feet, said to them, “Do you know what I, your Lord and Master, have done to you? I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done.”
Peace is my last gift to you, my own peace I now leave with you; peace which the world cannot give, I give to you.
I give you a new commandment: Love one another as I have loved you.
Peace is my last gift to you, my own peace I now leave with you; peace which the world cannot give, I give to you.
By this shall the world know that you are my disciples: That you have love for one another.
-Anthem during the foot-washing American Book of Common Prayer
