As we celebrate the dark days of the passion and death of Jesus, we think of the prophets who went before him. They were discouraged and disheartened at times by the refusal of the people to hear and heed their message and were also subject to abuse and persecution. Isaiah sums up their situation when he says in Chapter 49: 4 “I have toiled in vain and exhausted myself for nothing”. But even as he acknowledges the struggle Isaiah remembers that “all the time my cause was with Yahweh and my reward was with my God”. Remembering this Isaiah finds not only encouragement and hope but is able to reclaim his call and the call of his people to be a light to the nations. Sometimes during difficulties and struggles it is easy to forget our original purpose - as the saying goes “when you are up to your neck in alligators it is hard to remember that you came to drain the swamp”. A gesture or word of encouragement can remind us of why we are here and give us fresh energy for the task ahead.
I imagine that faced with betrayal, rejection and torture Jesus may have treasured the memory of the gesture of extravagant affection shown to him by Mary when she anointed his feet and dried them with her hair. Perhaps inspired by this experience, Jesus washed the feet of his disciples at the last supper. He was giving them an example of loving service. He may also have wanted them to experience his affection for them, knowing that their lives were about to be thrown into chaos by his arrest and death. He gave them something to hang on to so that they could get through the dark times. In John’s gospel there is no account of Jesus breaking and sharing bread and wine. Instead, John recounts the washing of feet. Both are gestures of the self-giving love and service that was characteristic of the life and ministry of Jesus.
The death of Jesus on the cross was his ultimate gesture of self-giving but it was also a crushing blow for his disciples. As we hear in the story of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus they felt as if all their hopes and dreams died with Jesus. They were discouraged and disheartened. Then Jesus broke bread with them and they recognized him in that gesture. They were able to reclaim their original purpose and immediately returned to Jerusalem with their hearts still burning with them.
After his resurrection through his words and gestures Jesus helped his disciples to deal with the fear, doubt, guilt and grief that his death and their response to it evoked in them. He provided them with time and space to move past these and reclaim their original call to be his disciples. The Acts of the Apostles testifies to the new heart and new spirit that the words and actions of Jesus after his resurrection had given to them.
Loving God,
we find ourselves in a dark time in history with a great many people living through wars, displacement, famine, fires, storms, hatred, discrimination and rising costs.
We ask you to walk with us in a special way as we retell the story of the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus.
Sustain us when times are difficult, and our lives are thrown into chaos and confusion.
May the words and gestures of encouragement we have received stay with us and give us hope.
May we know that our cause is always with you and that you are our strength.
Amen
By Fr Pat O'Shea - Lower Hutt, New Zealand
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