Holy Thursday: Discipleship in action

Yesterday evening, at nightfall, our Jewish brothers and sisters began the annual celebration of Passover.  The details of the meal that is celebrated on the first night of Passover were recounted in the first reading that we heard at this Mass (cf Ex 12: 3-4).  This is meant to be a family gathering.  Provisions are also made for neighbours and friends to be invited ... but this year, Passover is being experienced in a very different way.  Around the world, households are gathering around their tables, but this year there are no guests being invited because we are in the midst of a pandemic and we all need to follow the advice of health authorities who are telling us to maintain social distance.  Since they cannot gather around family tables with friends, at least in some places, people are celebrating by opening their windows and doors, and calling out in greeting to their neighbours and friends.  For the very first time, Orthodox Jews - who normally frown on the use of technology, especially in the context of sacred moments, have allowed the use of smart phones so that those who cannot be physically present can at least exchange greetings.

Like our elder brothers and sisters in faith, we too gather on this night to begin the celebrations of the Easter Triduum.  The liturgy that we have begun tonight has three parts to it:  normally, we re-enact the washing of feet during the liturgy of Holy Thursday, then we gather on Good Friday to commemorate the Passion and death of Jesus, and on Holy Saturday, we gather in the evening to keep vigil as we look forward to the fulfillment of Jesus' promise that he would rise from the dead.  Normally, these liturgies include the gatherings of great crowds, for like the Jewish people, we too come together around a table to listen once again to the story of our faith and to break bread together like Jesus did with his disciples (cf 1 Cor 11:23-26), however these are not normal times.  The isolation that has been imposed makes it necessary for some changes to be made to the way in which these liturgies are experienced, but it is important that we are together at this time, united in prayer and participating in the liturgy, even though it might seem strange to do so through the use of technology.

It is interesting to note that the gospel passage we have heard tonight does not speak of the details concerning the meal that was shared by Jesus and his disciples on that night.  Rather, the spotlight is placed on a very surprising gesture.  According to the established customs of the day, the task of washing the feet of visitors who came to someone's home would be reserved either to one of the children or to one of the servants.  This is the reason why the disciples found it so shocking to witness Jesus getting up from the table, taking off his outer robe, tying a towel around himself, pouring water into a basin and ... washing the disciples' feet (cf Jn 13: 4-5).  None of them could understand what he was doing.  Even when he explained to Simon Peter: Unless I wash you, you have no share with me (Jn 13: 8), they were still confused.  Jesus knew this to be true.  When he completed the task, all he said was: Do you know what I have done to you? ... If I ... have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet (Jn 13: 12-14).

Over these past few months, we have all found ourselves in a situation that is far beyond our own control.  We have watched powerlessly as this new coronavirus has spread from one corner of the world to another.  Since we have no medicine to combat it, we are forced to use some methods that none of us have ever experienced before in order to do what we can to slow its progress.  In the meanwhile, life as we know it has already changed.  People who once would cross international borders every day are only doing so now out of necessity.  People who would rarely speak with one another using the means of communication that God has given to us are learning once again to spend time with those we love.  It seems that in the midst of these unprecedented times, God is finding new ways to teach us how to wash one another's feet.

Doctors, nurses and other health care professionals are washing the feet of our brothers and sisters who have fallen ill with this new virus.  First responders are washing the feet of all those they are called to assist in their moments of need.  Home care staff who normally provide respite care and medical attention to those who are recovering at home now find themselves having to take unprecedented precautions in order to continue washing the feet of those they care for.  Teachers and professors are using technology in ways that they have never had to before in order to continue washing the feet of students who still need to be inspired and guided by them ... and family members are learning anew how to wash one another's feet as they rediscover the joy of time spent together.

Tonight, Jesus has given us an example of discipleship in action, and we have been invited to do as our Master has done.  Are we willing to accept this invitation?