Maundy Thursday / Jueves Santo + Vulnerable

M. Campbell-Langdell

2017 + Year A

Early in Holy Week, there is a very important ritual in which many clergy women and I imagine some male clergy also participate. Muy temprano en cada semana santa, muchas mujeres clérigas y algunos hombres clérigos también imagino participen en un ritual especial.
It is called the Holy Week pedicure. Se llama la pedicura de Semana Santa.
La mayoría de nosotros estamos un desorden- nuestra casa desordenada, y nuestro cuidado personal sufre también en esta época. Pero no queremos parecer descuidadas cuando llega el día Jueves Santo. We know that when Maundy Thursday comes, we are going to be baring our toes and though appearance is not the top priority come Holy Week, we don’t want to look a mess. So we get our toes done.

Which, while a big plus for self-care, is not exactly the point, is it? Aunque esto es Bueno por nuestro cuidado personal, realmente no es el punto de Jueves Santo.

Because here, Jesus is all about vulnerability. Jesús, acercando el fin de su vida mortal en esta tierra, está en el punto casi más vulnerable de su ministerio. Luego, hace algo aún más vulnerable. Empieza a lavar los pies de sus amigos. Jesus is at perhaps the most vulnerable point in his ministry. He knows he is about to be betrayed, but he has placed himself in a position such that it is all in God’s hands, and he is not stopping the progression of the horror of his passion. And here, at this most vulnerable point, he then does something even more vulnerable. He begins to wash the feet of the disciples.

Now, today, when most of us have regular access to indoor plumbing, this is still a vulnerable act. Having some friend, or stranger, wash your feet? In public? It just seems a bit exposed. Uno puede sentir muy expuesto cuando alguien le lava los pies aunque la mayoría de nosotros tenemos acceso a baños. But in Jesus’ time, not only were their feet dirty from walking on dirt roads in sandals, and without the same Access to bathroom facilities, but the feet were considered something very private. Often standing in for private parts in scripture, only the individual and/or perhaps a servant might touch your feet. It was humiliating for someone other than that, especially someone you respected and admired, to be in contact with something that seemed so dirty and personal at once.

En el tiempo de Jesús, los pies no solo fueron más sucios por el hecho de caminar largas distancias con solo sandalias en las vías públicas, pero también se consideraron algo muy vulnerable. En las sagradas escrituras doblaron para partes privadas, porque fueron considerados una parte muy privado de su cuerpo. De hecho, solamente uno mismo y / o un siervo hubiera tocado los pies de alguien. Y seguramente no los tocara un maestro y amigo admirado. Much less the Messiah! Mucho menos el Mesias!

But here Jesus is, saying, this is important. So important I am going to pair it with our Passover celebration, an important holy time. Do this. The Bread and the Wine, but also this. This serving, in the Christian way. Serving on your knees. And allowing others to serve you. Aquí dice Jesús, esto es importante. Lo tienen que hacer, si son mis discípulos. Tienen que recibir mi cariño. Tienen que estar vulnerables para servir y hacer mi ministerio en el mundo. Tiene que seguir lo que yo muestro. Servir de rodillas. Y tienen que compartir en el pan y vino. You must share in the bread and wine, the community of the faithful, and serve. You must be vulnerable, because then you will be aware of others who are vulnerable. Tiene que estar vulnerable, para estar consciente de las vulnerabilidades de los demas.
You must be humble in order to remember that it is only by depending on each other that we survive. Es algo humilde recordar que dependemos uno en el otro para sobrevivir.
Which brings to mind the beautiful song, Jesu, Jesu.  Que me trae a la mente la canción bella Jesús, Jesús.
Let us sing it together in English and Spanish:

“Jesu, Jesu, fill us with your love, show us how to serve the neighbors we have in you. / Jesús, Jesús, enséñame tú a amar y a servir a toda tu creación. …”

Amen.