Do this, in memory of me. We are intimately familiar with Jesus’ instruction from the Last Supper. We regularly take bread, bless it, and share it. Then take wine, bless it, and share it in memory of this moment. These are powerful symbols that feed our faith.
In John’s Gospel, we also hear how, on that last night with the disciples, Jesus took off his outer robe, tied a towel around his waste and washed the feet of those who he knew would abandon, deny, and betray him. In doing so, Jesus sent a powerful message about what love looks like. Love is found in service, in doing those important things that illustrate inclusion and care, even when those jobs are not desirable. Love is about getting our hands dirty.
Do this in memory of me. Our tradition takes this remembrance literally and includes an opportunity to wash feet in the rubrics of this service. Specifically, the priest, mimicking Jesus, performs this act “…that I may recall whose servant I am by following the example of my Master”.
It can be a powerful moment. There is great humility in washing feet. There is great humility in exposing one’s feet to be washed. These acts can be important signs of love and care for one another in a worshipping community. What happens if we choose to dig a bit deeper? What would it look like to consider the story we might tell together on this night as we remember God’s love embodied in Jesus?
Do this in memory of me. Washing feet made sense in Jesus’ context. His relationship with the community that surrounded him, and especially the disciples, was one that was based on journeying together, literally. They walked everywhere. Nazareth, Tyre, Sychar, Jericho, Bethany, Jerusalem, these are not casual strolls around the neighbourhood. These are journeys that could sometimes take days. This group was walking continually. What better way to honour that time than to gently and lovingly wash the feet of those who had walked with Jesus!
Do this in memory of me. Ours is not a walking ministry. Our vehicles can take us where we need to go. Few of us spend a lot of time on our feet. We get they are important. We could also argue that feet are not the best symbol of our journey together. So, what is?
What about ears? We are good at listening to one another. Or mouths? We do talk a lot. How about eyes? We look for the gifts of those we encounter and see beauty in our world. There is something to be said about all of these and we each use these in our own ways. Still, I think there is one other symbol that we all use in different ways, for different purposes, all of which embody service and love: our hands.
Consider how many hands it takes for us to gather for worship. There are hands that prepare the PowerPoint. Hands that set the table and care for the linens. Hands that play the music. Hands that clean the space. Hands that wave greeting and peace. Hands that make the bread. Hands that are held out to give and receive bread and wine in memory of Jesus.
In our community we also have hands that proclaim the Good News on social media. Hands that care for those in need through our clothing cupboard. Hands that bring together local vendors and create community. Hands that bake and cook to share with our neighbours. Hands that fix things to make sure our space functions. Hands that care for the gardens and creation. Hands that extend a welcome to any and all who come. Hands that serve embodying God’s love for the world.
Do this in memory of me. On the night before he died, Jesus at supper with his friends chose to embody love in a way that connected deeply to their shared journey and challenged them, and us, to love as he loved. On this night, as we remember what Jesus said and did, what would it be like for us to re-member, to embody Jesus’ act of love in a way that makes sense for our shared journey? What would it be like for us to show that we have a share with one another and with God by washing the hands which so lovingly serve God and neighbour throughout the year?
Do this in memory of me. Tonight, Jesus calls us to water and table. As we remember, may we feel the power of the story as it relates to our community in this time. May we trust God’s ongoing presence in our journey, gifting our hands as signs of love. May we gently offer our love for one another in an act of washing each other’s hands remembering how Jesus’ love was shared through washing on that night with his disciples.
Do this in memory of me. At this time, all are encouraged to come forward and wash someone’s hands and allow someone else to wash yours remembering the love embodied by these hands.