Today's Devotional
Eleven years ago, weeks after being elected, Pope Francis traveled to the Casal del Marmo prison on Rome's outskirts and washed the feet of 12 people, including two women and two Muslims. It was a dramatic scene. It was the first time women had taken part in the traditional Holy Thursday ritual. It was also the first time that a pope had conducted the service outside of either St. Peter’s or the Basilica of St. John Lateran.
Pope Francis said that he wanted to be closer to those who were suffering. His message was a simple one: Everyone, even the pope, has to be in the service of others.
When Jesus wanted to prepare his friends for his coming death, he had supper with them. To the casual observer, it probably would have seemed like supper as usual, but there was an underlying tension. The disciples had an ongoing argument about who was greatest, so they reclined at the meal with dirty feet. No one wanted to take on the role of a servant and perform the duty of hospitality — to wash the feet of the others.
Suddenly, the room grew silent as Jesus got up from the table, took off his robe and put a towel around his waist like a servant! The disciples watched in disbelief as Jesus took a basin, put water in it and began to wash the disciples' feet!
After washing their feet, he said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? You call me teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.”
Jesus demonstrated that we are to serve one another. Took up the basin of service and called us to do the same.
In Matthew 27 (vv.15-24), we read about another basin, also used during Holy Week. It was wielded by a corrupt and cruel man named Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor. When they brought Jesus to Pilate and demanded his crucifixion, Pilate knew what was right because his wife had reminded him that Jesus was righteous. But Pontius Pilate took a basin of water, and he washed his hands in front of the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood. It’s your problem.”
History has shown however, that Pilate could not wash Jesus’ blood off his own hands. Only Pilate, and not the Jews, had the power either to kill Jesus or to set him free. That is why we say in the Apostles’ Creed that Jesus “suffered under Pontius Pilate.” Pilate didn’t drive the nails, but with a basin of apathy, he killed Jesus.
When we see the plight of a brother or sister in need and turn away or when we know what is right and absolve ourselves of the responsibility, then we are choosing Pilate’s basin.
Two basins were used within a few hours of each other. Holy Week is an especially appropriate time to ask ourselves the question “Which basin do I choose most consistently in my life – the basin of service or the basin of Pilate? The answer makes all the difference in the world because the difference between Pilate’s basin and Christ’s basin is the difference between night and day. It is the mark of the Christian disciple.
Which basin will you choose?
— Dr. Tim Bruster, Director of Finance & Administrative Services, CTC delegate
timbruster@ctcumc.org
