RETREAT IN LENT 2021
Day 44,
Holy Thursday, 1 April
Covenant
A covenant is, literally, a coming together – like two people
when they marry; they pledge themselves to each other forever. God made a
covenant with Noah, with Abraham and with the people of Israel. The sign of
this covenant was the Passover meal in Egypt when ‘a lamb without blemish’ was
sacrificed and shared by each family (Exodus 12:1-14). Later, in the
desert, the implications of this sign were spelt out in the law given through
Moses.
Today, Holy Thursday, the day before Jesus dies, we are given
a new covenant, a new meal, the sharing in the bread and wine, signs of his
sacrifice, of his presence among us and of our union – communion – with him (1
Cor 11:23-26).
The implications of this sign are spelt out in an action that
shocks the gathered disciples. Jesus deliberately rises from the table and goes
down on his knees before each of them and washes their feet. A little gesture?
No, something highly significant and Peter and the others know it. They are
appalled; ‘you will never wash my feet!’
Jesus is blunt with them. ‘If I do not wash your feet, then it is all
over between us’ (John 13:1-15). ‘If you cannot grasp that my whole life
has been one of service to you and to the world then we can’t go on. It is
over.’ These are dramatic words but this is a dramatic moment. Jesus is about
to enter into the greatest act of service of all: his willing offering of
himself in suffering and death for the salvation of the world. Peter does not
understand but his love for Jesus is such that he immediately withdraws his
refusal.
The new covenant is one of service; our service of one
another, our opening our hearts to people who are different from us, maybe even
hostile to us. It means breaking down the barriers that divide us; it means a
new heaven and a new earth.
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