“I did not come to be served…”
Though I thought I had toiled in vain,
and for nothing, uselessly, spent my strength,
Yet my reward is with the LORD,
my recompense is with my God. (Isaiah 49)
Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
(John 13:1-6)
“Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.” ~ Muhammad Ali
Sitting in church yesterday the priest spoke to the heart of the great need in our world for comfort. We are called as Christians to tend to the needs that we have the ability to tend to and to pray for those that are out of our control. He finished his homily with the quote from Muhammad Ali and it struck a deep note. I quickly wrote it down in a journal I keep in my purse for such occasions. Serving others, being the hands and feet of Christ can often feel like the lament of Isaiah: useless and in vain. This morning the daily readings brought us to the Last Supper and I “read on” so to speak. From yesterday’s homily, to today’s readings, something beautiful began to unfold for my own servant’s heart: Jesus in His infinite love, compassion, and mercy is seeking to encounter us this week in a way that empowers us for the mission ahead. Think about it. Jesus enters Jerusalem knowing what awaits Him. He is getting ready to give Himself over for us on the cross. That should be enough, but not for our God. Jesus spends His last days doing everything He can to ensure that His disciples, those who will carry on His mission, are tended to. From the washing of the feet to the implementation of the Eucharist, Jesus put His friends needs before His own. As I reflect and pray with this I ask the question, “How can He do what I know I myself could not?” The answer comes with great wisdom. Jesus stays present to the present moment. When He was at the Last Supper, He was fully present to the Last Supper, He was not consumed by what was to come. I have heard from many spiritual “heavy hitters” that the only place that God is present is in the present moment. The past and the future are the playground of the devil. One you cannot change, and the other has not even occured yet. Jesus, during the Last Supper stayed in the space where He could be with His Father, the present. It was from this space that He could empty Himself yet again in service of those He loved. As we walk this life of Christianity, becoming friends of Jesus and serving others for Him, we too can feel like the suffering servant in Isaiah. We can feel that our efforts are wasted. Isaiah points to another truth that we are invited to embrace this Holy Week: Our reward is with the Lord. Jesus is our minister in times of weariness. Let us be present to the present moments of this Holy Week. Put aside the worry and planning for whoever you may be ministering to (including Easter celebrations) and allow yourself to be ministered by Jesus.
