For me, this is the hardest day to unpack. So much happened in such a short time period. I’m guessing Jesus rested on Wednesday because he knew he would need the energy for Thursday.
On this day, we get Jesus washing his disciples feet, the keeping of the Passover/The Lord’s Supper, the disciples arguing about who would be greater in the Kingdom, and the Jesus telling Peter he would deny him. How do I boil that down to just under 500 words?
After rereading the story, I have decided to focus today’s reflection on the idea of humility. If you have spent any time reading my posts over the years, you know that I have written multiple times about the Lord’s supper and Passover. It’s one of my favorite topics to discuss. But today I listened to a rabbi give a meditation and in it she reminded me that during the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Hebrew people were not to ingest anything that was puffed up, and that wasn’t just about bread products. It was about our ego.
Imagine the hubris of the disciples, to have the rabbi, kneeling before them and washing their feet. Then having those same disciples argue about who would be greatest in the kingdom, and then finally, Peter, pledging his allegiance to Jesus and then denying he knew him hours later.
This whole day was a lesson in humility and a warning about the lack there of. During this season of Lent, I never thought to focus on being humble… but rest assured, circumstances during these last few weeks have brought me low. In fact, I feel lower now than I have in years. I’ve cried more in the last week and a half than I did all of last year…and last year wasn’t great.
While all this action is happening on the day before the crucifixion, we see Jesus serving and in prayer. And honestly, I hope that’s what I look like in this very difficult season of my life…serving and praying. I know I’m not doing that great, but I promise I’m trying.
Question 1: Who is being humbled in the foot washing experience, the one who is washing feet, or the one whose feet are being washed?
Question 2: Who have you served during this Lenten season? Who has served you? How can you show your appreciation?
The Gospel According to Gabrielle 