Not to serve but to be served is also a biblical principle

Just back from a 24 hour meeting of our denominational Ministry Resource Team. As committee's go this group is about as good as it gets. Different perspectives, wide experience, the right combination of frankness and courtesy, a safe place for adventurous thinking and the contemplation of risk, newness and different possibility.

One of the times of prayerful reflection was around John 13. We were asked to sit quietly and read it, reflect on what it might have to say to us in our work together, or in our own journey towards a deeper grasp of what it means to be a minister of Jesus Christ. I've read this passage so many times - its cadences in the RSV are like footprints in my textual memory. Again and again it surprises me. And did so again.

It's that discordant note that Peter can't help sounding, his habit of not getting the point, of wanting to  set the terms of every relationship. Evelyn Underhill, one of the finest spiritual directors the Anglican communion ever produced, pointed out the hard work of unselfing the self, the humility to make space for the other. And there it is. Peter won't wash feet so Jesus does. Jesus washes feet but then Peter doesn't want his own feet washed by Jesus. Then he wants to be washed all over, hands, head and all.

John 13 is often seen as a depiction of ministry as serving others, just like Jesus. But this embarrassing exchange is also yet one more time when the self gets in the way. Peter isn't prepared to be served, unless it's on his terms. Underhill also spoke of the claimfulness of the self, the issue of status, rights and reputation. And so, maybe the hardest thing about ministry isn't the serving of others, which may or may not require of us a healthy humility. The more Christlike attitude may be that degree of humility that accepts service from another, that is humble enough to have our feet washed without complaint or sensed diminishment.

And, subversive thought - before Jesus washed the disciples feet, his own feet had been washed, by a woman's tears of gratitude. And again everybody else had an opinion about it. Whereas Jesus received the gift of service with the grace and the mercy of the gracious and merciful - and both he and she were blessed.

This ministry thing - not as straightforward as we'd all like to think.

The sketch by Vellatton as always says multum in parvo. "She has covered my feet with perfume and washed them with her tears."

Comments

[Ruth Gouldbourne]

thank you for this - and particularly for the sketch!