I am used to watching birds in our garden almost daily. Some birds as the above three, are well groomed and appear clean and some are not!
The context of this statement was when Peter refused Jesus to wash his feet (v8). Jesus's response was, 'If I do not wash you, you have no part with me'(v8). It was to this Peter responded by saying, 'Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and head'.
Jesus responded by saying, 'you are clean' because 'He who bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean..'(v10).
On this Maundy Thursday, I have had this thought returning to me a few times today.
He who had a bath is clean. His feet alone needs washing.
It is a passage of profound symbolism. Who is the one who has a bath! He who has a desire to take care of himself. A person takes responsibility for his self care and daily needs just as the birds take care of their grooming. It was this the disciples failed to do before sitting down for the Lord's Supper as we read in the narration in John 13.1-20.
The narration of the supper in this narration begins with how Judas was 'assessed' by the thought to betray Jesus (v2). He did not take care of his thoughts, aspirations or consider the dichotomy of his behaviour. Having been a chosen disciple of Jesus for over three years, he chose to turn against him! The disciples saw Jesus preparing to wash the feet the disciples before the supper( v4-5). They sat and allowed their master to do each person ought to have done as a personal responsibility. The comment of Peter that Jesus took over his personal responsibility of bathing was another indicator of a distorted thinking with another disciples lived. He did not view himself as responsible enough fo this behaviour. In Jesus refusing to wash Peter's hands and head (v.9) was giving a message that Peter was responsible to stay clean by exercising his choice and responsibility.
This is a distressing situation in a pilgrim journey as followers of Jesus. Both Peter and judas lsat sight of their personal responsibility. Peter in failing to wash his hands or head and turning to Jesus to do it for him is a sign of irresponsible pilgrimage. A neighbour goes to the mass a few times a day but is drunk in the evenings and makes the home a miserable place for others. This is the paradox in our interpretation of our faith Journey. We fulfilled some rituals of pilgrim practice but live indulgently in other domains where we ought to behave responsibly and prudently.
In the narration of Jesus invited for a meal, the Pharisee questioned Jesus on sitting for a meal without the ceremonial washing (Luke11:37-53), Jesus responded; 'Now you pharisees clean the outside of the cup and of the platter but inside of you, you are full robbery and wickedness'(v39). Jesu had something more to say to the Pharisees : ' For you pay tithe of mint and rue and every kind of garden herb, and yet disregard justice and the love of God; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others'(v42).
In our pilgrim journey we are called upon to live paying attention to the outer and inner dimensions of our lives. The family prayer at every home is an outer symbol of inner devotion to God. Judas was present at the Lord' supper plotting to harm Jesus. Peter argued with Jesus to wash him, which was his personal responsibility. Both Judas and Peter paid were present at the Lord's supper with their inner orientation in contradiction to their outer appearance of piety.
I have struggled a lot during this week in responding to the call that comes to me about my inner state. I have been through a state of broken relationship at work place. It is following a long period of struggle with my attempt to optimise the work output which declined over a period of time. I have been reprimanded by the administration in allowing this slide. Looking back, I realise now that many outward things looked good enough in the way we worked, but what really mattered was to uphold stewardship of accountability at work. But personal interests interfered with seeking to be mindful of others. I too for a while restricted the appointments to a few families in order to reduce the stress that appeared to weigh me down. I know that others too fell short of their responsibilities.
Yes, we are made clean by a God who loves and forgives. But was that enough! It was those who were clean at the Lord's supper that Jesus set out to wash their feet. What is symbolic in this! Jesus said to Peter, 'If I do not wash you, you have not part with me'(John 13.8). It is the clean people who would need washing of their feet. It needs humility to let someone else wash our feet. It can be embarrassing. The one who offers to wash and the one who consents for the feet to be washed are inwardly ready to make that as a sacred act of giving and receiving goodwill and trustful acceptance of each other.
There is more to being followers of Jesus of Nazareth. It is not enough to appear to be clean, although that is how God views us out of His kindness towards us. There resides within us even at that state many desirable traits that make us haughty, self-seeking, pretending and justifying attitudes. It is for this reason, Jesus offers to wash our feet, which becomes another moving symbol. Jesus kneels before us and embraces us, while He washes our feet. It transfers us from being clean to be made ready for supper with Him.
The Lord's supper is a sacrament of receiving grace and hope for our pilgrim journey. It is a symbol of togetherness and fellowship for our pilgrim journey.
I remember an instance when Rev. Eva Marie Koch from Berlin visiting us at ASHIRVAD Child Development Centre in 1983 at Chennai on a day when the access to our place was covered in a foot of water following heavy rain. She had to wade through water to meet us on the advice of late Dr A.K.Tharien. Following this she went back to Berlin to share our story of a new initiative to be involved with children with developmental challenges. A group of friends under the leadership of Ms Christiana and Ms Gisela since then have been closely associated with ASHIRVAD to help us in our mission. Anna and I feel that it was this group among others who stand out as those whose giving of themselves have sustained us. Once when I asked Ms Gisela, what is that which made them to stay in touch with us for so many years, she told us: 'We in meeting you found friends with whom we can journey together'. This thought continues to inspire us immensely.
Jesus found 12 disciples to journey together in fulfilling his mission. Even at an occasion of instituting the Lord's super there were disciples who were not converted to align with His mission of serving. Jesus humbled Himself to minister to his disciples even when danger to His life was at the door step! Jesus overcame heaviness of heart and grief to love his disciples to the utmost.
Jesus said, 'If any one loves Me, he will keep My word and My Father will love him and We will come to him and make Our abode with him' (John14:23).
It is not enough to be clean. That is only a step in the journey towards having the abiding presence of God in our lives!
M.C.Mathew(text and photo)
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