Holy Week 2020 is my first Holy Week as pastor. While I had wonderful experiences in the parish on the southside of Milwaukee where I served as Associate Pastor for three years, there just seemed to be something special about Holy Week as a pastor. For one, being in the Dominican Republic, I was toying with the idea of riding a donkey on Palm Sunday. But what was most on my mind and in my prayer was the foot washing on Holy Thursday. I’d even get emotional thinking about offering that powerful sign of servant leadership for the communities of La Sagrada Familia and also the men in the catechesis program preparing for baptism in the local jail.
But, no donkey. And no foot washing. The former, is of course a bit silly. Still, in terms of a Holy Thursday without foot washing, I have found myself forced to reflect on its deeper meaning and on the “why” of this sign. As such this unsought shaking-up and unique opportunity can serve for a more profound experience of the meaning of this particular sign of Jesus in the Gospel of John that we re-experience every Holy Thursday, except this one.
To begin, I think we all generally agree that service is important not just in terms discipleship, but also just being a decent human being. In all circles, we use the language of “giving back.” Service hours are important for getting college, for scholarships, for jobs, and even as a means of restitution in minor crimes. Parents speak of wanting their children to do some sort of service to “appreciate what they have.” Nevertheless, this Holy Thursday we must ask ourselves the question: What is Jesus referring to when he says to his disciples after washing their feet, “For I have set for you an example, that you should do as I have done to you” (Jn 13:15)? How is this different than a general sense of service being a good thing to do?
First, Jesus wants to demonstrate in the foot washing that a true master serves. He is willing to “lower” himself in order to serve those who follow him. This idea is a reflection of Jesus’ ministry on Earth in the Gospel of John, as the Word or Son who was sent to unite those who “believe” in him in the love of the Father (cf. Jn 15:9-10, 17:21). Therefore, those who believe in Jesus and truly follow him are called to serve, but as a result and expression of love. The commandment that Jesus gives shortly after washing the feet is not to serve for the sake of service, but “Just as I have loved you, you should love one another” (Jn 13:34).
The foundation of this sign is the love the is shared between the Father and Son, and which Jesus was sent in order to share with the world (cf. Jn 3:16). As described by Jesus within the Gospel of John, this is a love that is faithful, loyal and of service “to the end,” (Jn 13:1). Such a sense of fidelity out of love reflects the love of the Father towards the world. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only son… God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him,” (Jn 3:16-17). Jesus, who is in the Father, loves as the Father, and his commandment is thus that those who follow him (“his own”) love in this way (cf. Jn 15:9).[i]
This sense of fidelity out of love is made clear in John 15 where Jesus connects the word remaining (or abiding, from the Greek μένω) with love. “…[R]emain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love…” (Jn 15:9-10). And true dedication (remaining) in love that has no end is demonstrated in the full gift of self without limit. “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (Jn 15:13). As such, tomorrow on Good Friday, we will see that Jesus makes good on his own message and is faithful to the Father and his promise to us.[ii]
Jesus makes clear that the disciples will show they have learned from and believe in him by being faithful to his commandment to “love one another” (cf. Jn 14:15). They are to follow Jesus’ example, not only of humbly serving as demonstrated in the foot washing, but also as the Word who became flesh and lived within the “world” (Jn 1:14) and loved until the end. And in doing so, the disciples are united in Jesus’ relationship with the Father, who in turn are faithful in their love to the disciples, sending the Advocate to be with them forever (Jn 15-17). In this way, those who believe and are thus moved to follow Jesus are “saved,” (cf. Jn 1:12-13; 20:31).
Sometimes it is necessary to go down to the foundation in order to build something new, or to strengthen what is already there. That is an opportunity that has been given us during this unique Holy Week and it can bear much fruit if we take advantage of it. While most of us cannot celebrate the beautiful sign of the foot washing this Holy Thursday, the current situation does afford the opportunity to find new ways to apply the message contained within it: that of a love that is faithful to the end, to full completion, and based on humble service and complete self-gift, such that others be lifted up. It is service in a way to allow others to see their importance to God and be so moved by it that they respond to that love.
Then, the question for all of us is: How can I serve in the way Jesus taught, now? I do not pretend have an answer here. However, I would like to provide some guidance. It seems to me that what is of upmost importance in Christian service, founded in self-giving love, is its authenticity. We of course can use the different social sciences and models to be efficient and effective. However, if we are calculating to the point of being cold, what we may do is still service, but it is not Christian service. Christian service is one based on relationships – and not so much about the size.
So, on this special holy day in this unique Holy Week, without donkeys or foot washing, let us reflect especially on the small ways that we can live out the central message of the Triduum. Authentic giving of self is how we unite in the love of Jesus, and in doing so, we are united in the love of the Father. It seems to me that the importance of relationships is something that we are coming to appreciate more and more these days; how much more so when in the light of the Easter Candle.
[i] As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. (Jn 15:9)
[ii] There is in fact a deeper connection in the narration of Jesus “loving to the end” (Jn 13:1) to his last words on the cross than the English translations reflect. Before perishing, Jesus says “it is finished,” (NRSV, NAS, KJV, INT). The root of “end” in 13:1 and “it is finished” in 19:30 is the same, τἐλος, (where the prefix “tele” comes from in telescope or telephone). I simply point it out here because John makes it very clear what is meant by loving “to the end.”
