Deacon Bonnie Matthews Maundy Thursday
Posted on
Maundy Thursday; April 2, 2015
Trinity Episcopal Church, Hartford
The Rev. Bonnie Matthews, Deacon
Exodus 12:1-4 (5-10) 11-14
I Corinthians 11:23-26
John 13:1-17, 31b-35
Psalm 116: 1, 10-17
In the name of Jesus Christ; Lover, Teacher, Friend and Savior
In his Lenten message, Father Don invited us into action with daily prayer and holy service to others through the practice of performing at least one act of kindness a day throughout Lent. Well Lent is almost over, but the disciplines we may have practiced or the lessons we have learned should not come to an end.
From our Gospel this evening we heard that we are to serve others, not only as a Lenten discipline but as Jesus would have us do.
John 13:12-17 After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord--and you are right, for that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.
Just three weeks ago, in his sermon Bishop Drew reminded us that the risen Christ still lives. In his sermon, Drew named us the Body of Christ, the Temple of the Holy Spirit.
Because for me this is so central to our gospel this evening I would like to quote Drew.
”Through us, may God’s glory and mercy, whose foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, whose weakness is stronger than human strength, may God’s glory be shown, not with monuments of marble and gold, or brick and stone and wood, all of which erode and decay, and fall down. Rather may God’s glory and merciful love shine because above all else we seek simply and always, wherever we are, to meet God in Christ. And as we do, may our lives so shine, radiant, with the divine presence and love, that God will be made plain, glorious, for all the world to see.”
And here is what my heart heard:
We are the temple of God. Through us, every day, everyone we meet has the opportunity to meet God. While we should be concerned about our building and how it functions, each one of us, as a member of God’s Temple is called to humbly reflect God’s love for all humanity.
John 13: 34-35 Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."
Do we serve as Jesus served? Do we love as Jesus loved? Do we place ourselves last rather than first? Do we love one another regardless of race, class, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and religion or economic status? What does that love look like?
Here within the walls of Trinity I think we do. I challenge you to reflect how you serve and love outside the protection of this building. How do we as individuals show God’s love for creation and our brothers and sisters in the world?
This year Bishop Laura Ahrens and ECCT Deacons’ Council requested that deacons throughout CT read and reflect on the book Hand to Mouth Living in Bootstrap America written by Linda Tirado as part of our Lenten Discipline.
Throughout this book Linda frankly and boldly discusses openly how she went from lower-middle class, to sometimes middle class, to poor and everything in between, and in doing so she reveals why “poor people don’t always behave the way middle-class America thinks they should.”
This book challenges people in middle and upper class America to rethink their preconceived notions. This challenge was directed at me.
Little did I know at that time how this book was going to both affirm and challenge my ministries or my daily life.
Until I read this book, I hadn’t really given much thought to the privilege I have working a full time (40 hours per week job) with medical benefits. Linda’s words made me conscious of this privilege.
There are places in this book where Linda writes about what it means to work in service. Service may be as a waitress, a clerk in a store or bartending. Almost always only 20-30 hours a week at minimum wage. Sometimes it’s less money with a guarantee of tips to meet the minimum wage. She speaks openly of some service jobs being employed at will. In other words, some people have to sign agreements to work at the will of the employer. One may have to start work early, leave late, or sign an agreement that they will not work for others at the same time. Work schedules may be posted late, not allowing the worker to plan or arrange a second work schedule.
Linda writes that regardless of her mood she may not be “checked into work”. She may be calculating how much extra she will make if she stays an hour or two, she may be worrying if it’s not busy if she may be sent home early losing pay, or if she’ll be allowed to leave in time to pick up her children or be able to make it in time to her other job. Almost always, she is relying on public transportation schedules or a car that breaks down frequently.
Linda’s description of not being “checked into work” challenged me to think about what it means to work in service. I am ashamed to say that on occasions I have not given thought to those who literally serve me and how I in turn respond or serve them.
I believe I am not alone in my response.
Here is my story:
I’m a busy woman. I have my vocational work as a deacon, I work full time at Hartford Hospital, I’m a homeowner, and I am a grandmother, a friend, and a confidant. I embrace my life and the lives of those I love. I take pride in my work and in my home life.
Because I have little time there are things that I don’t like to do. While I like to cook for myself and for others I don’t like to take time to grocery shop. I do this out of necessity and usually at the end of a long week.
One weekend this past February I had to forego my routine of shopping on a Friday. What I didn’t think about was traveling to the grocery store with what seemed to be hundreds of shoppers stocking up for yet another Sunday to Monday snowstorm.
There I was picking through already picked over and bruised produce and waiting for what seemed to be hours at the deli counter just to get a third of a pound of cheese and lunch meat. Then on through the aisles to attempt to find milk that was not going to expire within the next day or two. After all, no one would be able to get through the snow to pick up milk and bread.
Having completed my selections it was time to check out.
To my dismay there were only two checkouts available for those of us who had more than 10 items or had not picked up one of those gadgets that electronically tally your grocery costs as you put your items into bags while you shop. I surveyed the lines and got into the line that had more carts but they were carts that had fewer groceries. The lights signaling open checkouts were on.
You see I have a strategy to be in the store less than a half hour and here I was going on fifty minutes of grocery store time before checking out. Time went on and I was in line for fifteen minutes.
I was just about to place my groceries on the conveyor belt when the cashier said. I’m closed. End of story. I wasn’t happy, I wasn’t kind and I was not proud of my behavior as I argued that I had been in line, there were people behind me and I didn’t want to go to another line. My time was valuable…… I didn’t let it go there. I tracked down a manager and forced my opinion of the stores business practices on him. Both he and the cashier just stood there mutely until he apologized and I waited in yet another line……. I’m not certain what I accomplished there except to make a fool of myself.
You see, I felt offended that I their most important customer did not receive appropriate customer service. ….Until I read Hand To Mouth.
I was not present to my surroundings except those surroundings that were or were not to my advantage.
I was not thinking about what anyone providing service to me was going through:
Perhaps the store was experiencing an unusual amount of customers that the business was not prepared to handle.
Perhaps the cashier had been on her feet for several hours without a break, or maybe she needed to leave for another job or to get her children from childcare.
Most undoubtedly they may be a service person who has to hear customers complain about selections of produce or exorbitant pricing that he/she can do nothing about it.
I tell you this story because I know this was not the first time nor will it be the last time I am not or wasn’t present to my surroundings. Sometimes it’s easier to focus on doing right when we are faced with “big” things. However we are called to love our neighbor during the mundane comings and goings of our lives.
Thankfully I don’t have many lapses in being present to others, but they are there. When I have those lapses my kindness does need to be intentional toward others.
Now when I offer prayer, I ask that God teach me how to be an example of his love in the world. And when I fail because I am human, I ask to be forgiven and held in God’s love
In a few moments we will be invited to remember the humility of Christ and his expectation of service among us during our foot washing service. Whether we partake of this service or meditate in prayer let us remember Jesus’ invitation to:
Meet with the humble and the poor
Listen to the voices of those who have nothing to lose
Give of ourselves with compassion and humility in order for idols of power and status to be cast down
Love, Love one another as God has loved us.
Amen