Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14
Psalm 116
1 Corinthians 11:23-26
John 13:1-15
As I prepared this homily, I engaged in conversation with a few people throughout the week. One person told me that she didn’t like the thought of Jesus washing her feet because her toenails are gross, and then she went on to offer a remarkable reflection on this about vulnerability before God.
Another conversation took place in the kitchen as people prepared to serve others in need.
But firstly, let us consider the Biblical journey we have travelled over Lent. Fr James and I have brought you through our first preaching series on Renewing Our Covenant. An examination of the Covenants God established with humanity over the millennia.
It’s really important for us to understand our Covenantal roots because our faith makes no sense outside the story of the people Israel. It wasn't intended to make sense outside this context; outside these particular people, called for a particular purpose.
So, tonight, when the Church celebrates the establishment of the Sacrament of Holy Eucharist and the institution of the ministerial priesthood, it's in the context of the Jewish Passover. Let’s briefly look at that so we can more intimately participate in the celebration.
We read form Exodus in our first reading, that each family was to take a lamb into their house for four days and then slaughter it at twilight, put blood on the doorposts and lintel, eat the lamb that evening with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. And as a sign of God’s sovereignty over the entire created order, death will not come to that household overnight; where the firstborn of every human and animal will die.
This shall be a day of remembrance for you.
Why did God choose to demonstrate his sovereignty and power in this way? I don’t know. But I do know that God is faithful to the Covenant and has always been faithful to the Covenant. God is faithful to the Covenant; God will always be faithful to the Covenant.
The Passover, and the Jewish deliverance from the land of slavery in Egypt, is fundamental to the Jewish sense of identity and the ushering in of the Covenant that God made with Moses through the giving of the law. The Jewish understanding of freedom is intimately tied to remembrance of the Passover and the Covenant God made with Moses. And so, likewise, our Christian understanding of our own identity is wrapped up in remembrance of Jesus as the Passover lamb.
The deliverance of the people of Israel from slavery in Egypt is seen as an expression of God’s love for Israel; from slavery to freedom, through the blood of the sacrificial lamb.
Now, through Christ, all of humanity is provided the means of freedom, through the blood of the lamb, the lamb provided by God; God’s very self, Jesus the Messiah.
Just as the love of God is revealed to the people of Israel by not leaving them in the misery of slavery in Egypt, God acted again in history, through Israel, to free all of humanity through Christ.
From the Office of Readings this morning, “It is he who endured every kind of suffering in all those who foreshadowed him. In Abel he was slain, in Isaac bound, in Jacob exiled, in Joseph sold, in Moses exposed to die. He was sacrificed in the Passover lamb, persecuted in David, dishonoured in the Prophets.”
Jesus triumphs over all the diseases of the soul.
So, what do we make of this now?
At the beginning of this homily, I mentioned the woman who didn’t like her toenails, nor did she like the thought of Jesus washing her feet because of her toenails. This woman went on to reflect on Jesus saying, “Unless I wash you, you have no share in me” as a way to consider vulnerability and humility as the entry point into the spiritual life. The washing Jesus provides cleanses our ego because, she said, “We cannot truly be humble before other people until we are first humble before God. God wants to see us, warts, ugly toenails and all.”
God wants to see us.
She continued, “Our ability to give will always be limited until we have received what God wants us to give or we risk it being a selfish motivation.”
When we get a glimpse of this great gift God has given us, our hearts are overwhelmed with gratitude.
Eucharist is simply a Greek word for “thanksgiving.”
As we move to the Altar tonight, think of this:
The priest says, “The Lord be with you,” and you respond, “And with your spirit.”
“Lift up your hearts.” We lift them up to the Lord.
“Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.” It is right and just.
“It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation, always and everywhere to give you thanks…”
This is how we enter the Eucharistic rite at the Altar…through the lens of gratitude.
I am willing to bet that the most spiritually grounded people you know are also the most grateful. They don’t take anything for granted. From this place of gratitude, the divine life can take root, grow and blossom.
The Psalmist sang, "I will offer to you a thanksgiving sacrifice and call on the name of the Lord."
A little boy was asked to pray for dinner. Before he bowed his head, he looked at the dish. Then, closing his eyes he prayed, “Lord, I don’t like the looks of it, but I promise to thank you and to eat it anyway.”
Giving thanks it not an optional part of the spiritual life; it’s essential because it flows from the source and summit of our very faith.
We give thanks for all Jesus did for us.
If we had any true idea and trust in what is going on in the Mass, we would be on our hands and knees crawling miles just to participate in it.
Gratitude powers our Mission to serve as Jesus served to set an example for us, just as it tempers our tendency to self-deception.
“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 and example, that you also should do as I have done to you.”
As you approach the Altar tonight to receive the Blessed Sacrament, bring to mind something for which you are truly grateful.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation, always and everywhere to give you thanks..."
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