Faith U M C Schenectady

Today we remember the greatest sacrifice of all. #GoodFriday (Photo by Kathleen Barry, United Methodist Communications)

MAUNDY THURSDAY JOHN 13:1-17, 31B-35 Jesus is a revolution. Not a political revolution that replaces one law or system with anotherthat is nothing new, that is... merely a modification of the old. No, Jesus is a fundamental revolution, a revolution that shakes the foundations. Jesus is showing us that it must start with you and me. There can be no fundamental revolution unless we understand relationshipour relationship with society, our relationships with one another On this night Jesus is showing us the way to a new reality, a new culture. For Jesus there is no ambition to be something special, no competition. He knows that kind of self-expansion is separatismJesus is the empty man, the nothing man and so for him there is no competing or comparing himself with othersJesus is empty of self and so he will truly serve others. He is showing us the way to love. He is washing away the old ways of domination and hierarchy. But Peter, Peter isn’t used to this. Peter belongs to the mind-set that gives us the old creation. Peter’s world is structured by domination, power, and hierarchy. Foot washing reveals the societal pecking order. Feet are washed by slaves, by children, and women, those without social power. The lower class washes the upper class. Our world is not so different from Peter’s. Those who have power, wealth, education, beauty, position are washed. Those who don’t are the washers. Peter is like most of us, he may not like injustice, but he is used to it. It is familiar. And because Peter belongs to the way things have always been, he doesn’t like changefrom Peter’s perspective, the Christ cannot wash the feet of the disciples. He tells Jesus, that’s not how we do things around here, because we’ve never done it like that around here. You’ll never wash my feet. But Jesus belongs to a different Reality. On this night he feels the old is coming to an endof course it isotherwise there can be no renewal. Think of all the feet that pass through our lives in a day, a month, a year, a lifetime. What have we done with those feet? What will we do with them? Maybe we ignore them. Maybe we have stepped on them. Maybe we have received them into our life. So many feet. Young, old, tired, lost, angry, hurt. There are all sorts of feet. Black feet, white feet, brown feet, Muslim feet, Christian feet, gay feet, straight feet. Feet that have walked through the muck of life. Feet that have trespassed into places they shouldn’t have gone, feet that bear scars. Feet that have walked on people. Feet that have been locked out in the cold. Feet that have walked in Holy places. Feet that have carried the message of the Christ. Feet that dance to a different drummer. When we, like Jesus, empty ourselves and wash those feet, we move from being spectators to being participants in the New Reality. When we wash those feet, we move from the religion about Jesus to the religion of Jesus. Amen. See more

Did you know the English word "Maundy" comes from the Latin word for commandment? It refers to the commandment Jesus gave his disciples on the last night befor...e his betrayal and arrest to love one another as he had loved them (John 13:34). https://www.umc.org//c/ask-the-umc-what-is-maundy-thursday (Photo by Kathleen Barry, United Methodist Communications) See more

https://faithumc-schenectady.weebly.com/pastors-message.html

Don’t miss hearing a live update from our missionaries to Nepal tomorrow during our 9am worship service. Dr. Mark Zimmerman and his son, Benjamin, will update us about their ongoing ministry. Come in person or watch online at www.shenumc.org