April, 2008
Posted by Administrator (holytrin) on Mar 28 2008 at 2:38 PM
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I know I’m not the only one who found it impossible to talk around the lump in my throat during that extraordinary moment in our Maundy Thursday service. Seeing the Gospel embodied like that – that is a moment that sticks with a person. Several who were present have asked if it was planned, so let me categorically state – no, it was as much of a surprise to us “up front” as it was to you.

On that evening, as we have for years, we acted out Jesus’ commandment at the Last Supper to “love one another as he has loved us.” Our sermon that night was the action of washing each others’ feet – joining with the disciples in their discomfort, remembering that our Christ was servant above all else, and calls us to serve as he did. As we sang “Where true charity and love remain,” we lived out the Gospel in that moment, and remembered.

As we came to the end of those who wished to participate, I had the chance to wash Pastor Snyder’s feet, and he asked if I wanted my feet washed as well. As I stood up to switch places with him, I noticed there was a commotion behind me, and Pastor Snyder was looking past my shoulder. I turned, and there was one of our young members, just 8 years old, standing behind me, right next to the basin where I had been kneeling.  

This young boy had already had his feet washed, so I was a little confused. But then he knelt without a word there at the basin – and suddenly I understood. He had watched. He had listened as we talked about living out our sermon. And he had heard what Jesus said: “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.” And this young boy, of his own idea, had come forward so that he could wash my feet, so that I could be part of our sermon that night, too.

Believe me when I say, I have never felt so humbled. Believe me when I say there was not a dry eye in the room. Believe me when I say that I could not have spoken at that moment. And believe me when I say that there is nothing I could have preached, there are no words that would have had the impact of seeing that young boy kneel down, take the towel and wrap it around his waist, reach out his small hands and wash my feet.

What a privilege we have as a community, to be a place where our young people are so sure they are loved, they can live out the faith they’re catching from us. What a gift, to be a place where all of us – old and young, new in the faith and life-long – listen and learn together. What a treasure, to learn from our young people.   What a responsibility, what a grace, what a gift of the Spirit to be entrusted with these lives, and to love them into faith. We are truly blessed to be given the opportunity to grow in faith together.

It is the Easter season, and by now the scent of the lilies has faded. But that image – of a young boy who listened to Jesus – will remain.