Foot Washing at The Open Door Community
Br. Eduard the Agitator asked me to lead this morning’s foot washing. He even pointed in scripture in John’s gospel a three-point homily. I considered his suggestion, but after reading the text time and again, I felt I needed to lay aside those three points and share with you that which resonates with me.
At the last supper all too often the celebration of the Eucharist, as the central sacrament of the Church, is held above the other sacrament Jesus gave the disciples…the followers of the Holy One…and that is of foot washing. For contemporary Christians this rite is limited to one day of the year on Maundy Thursday of Holy Week, and this practice has become ceremonial and troublesome because it’s embarrassing and draws attention.
Thank God that this water of foot washing is troublesome because what it does for you and me!
After reading John 13 over and over, in trying to hear what the Spirit is saying even this morning was difficult. I had to silent the voices of interpretation to this scripture and allow this passage to sink into my soul. God was gracious as I was in retreat at the Convent of St. Helena’s in Augusta, GA where I entered into the Grand Silence and began to listen to the Spirit as she breathed new life into the text.
Part of what the Spirit was teaching me comes from my understanding and embrace of monasticism as a way of life or a rule of life. Saint Benedict in his particular rule of life for monks said, “keep death ever before one’s eye.” We all begin to dance with death the moment we are born, and to keep death on our minds is not a morbid act of self-abasement and denial, but an invitation enter into the joy of life that is right in front of us.
This what is going on with Jesus. Jesus knew his time has come and he was filled with love: not fear, not resentment, not despair; but love. Jesus knew that he came from the Creator who called all things goods…and very good; and that Jesus was returning to the One who is Love and wanted to give the disciples a very practical expression of what that love looks like…and it wasn’t the celebration of the Eucharist…it was washing the feet of those gathered around table serving and eating hot grits, boiled eggs, bread, peanut butter and jelly and drinking apple juice and “regular” coffee (for those who aren’t New Yorkers…regular coffee is coffee served with milk and sugar).
In the living room there is an abstract picture with the question, “If you live alone, whose feet will you wash?” Saint Basil, the author of that quote and another monastic and bishop of the early church, understood not only what hospitality looked like, but what an interdependent community looked like as the beloved community...the realization of the realm of God’s reign on earth as it is in heaven. This simple act of washing feet, in St. Basil’s mind, was the great equalizer: I need you…you need me…we need each other to wash each others’ feet. It doesn’t matter who you are or where you come from…but what matters is that I love you and that love is an action.
For me the Anglo-Catholic, the image of water is a reminder of my baptism and my baptismal vows. I want to share with you what those vows are and they are in the form of question and answer:
Celebrant: Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers?
Answer: I will, with God’s help.
Celebrant: Will you persevere in resisting evil, and whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord?
Answer: I will, with God’s help.
Celebrant: Will you proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ?
Answer: I will, with God’s help.
Celebrant: Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself?
Answer: I will, with God’s help
Celebrant: Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?
Answer: I will, with God’s help.
My entire baptismal covenant is living into that ancient prayer of our Jewish brothers and sisters which is also found in the summary of the Law and Prophets taught by Jesus: Love God…love your neighbor. I cannot choose between the two thinking that loving God is better than loving people. God in infinite wisdom reminds me: the same manner I love my neighbor, or better yet…the one I perceive as my enemy or how I respond to a person who annoys while I’m behind the wheel, is exactly how I love God…and that is a hard pill to swallow which I often have to swallow again, and again, and again.
In this simple act of washing each others’ feet, let us serve Christ in one another. Let this simple act of washing feet be the seed of justice and peace between you and me that grows into the beloved community of God.
I said in the beginning, “Thank God that this water of foot washing is troublesome because what it does to and for us…and blessed, oh how blessed are all of us who continue this example of love, hospitality, service, peace and justice for one another.
So I’m going to invite you to, as a spiritual reminds me to, “Wade in the water. Wade in the water, children, Wade in the water, God's a-going to trouble the water.”