Humbled to Love

The Reverend Jerry C. Kittredge / April 1, 2026

The Collect for the Maundy Thursday

“Jesus said on the night of the Last Supper, ‘A new cmmandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:34-35)

‘Mandatum novum do vobis’, the Latin phrase, means ‘a new commandment I give to you’. Hence, Maundy means ‘command.’ This command of Jesus is simple: love. Our world, however, keeps asking ‘what is love’. On that night Jesus demonstrates to us a pattern of living in love. First, He washes the feet of those in the room, and second, institutes the Lord’s Supper, or The Holy Eucharist. 

Washing feet was a servant’s job, who had a master. The servant brought comfort to those feet travelling in sandals. Imagine that.  Jesus decides to get on the floor taking the servant’s job. Moreover, a servant’s job can be dismissed as ‘not important’ compared to larger matters at hand. Jesus said, ‘I no longer call you servants but friends.’ (John 15:15) 

Why did Jesus demonstrate this foot-washing task? Isn’t this an outdated regional hospitality practice? Does foot-washing have a deeper meaning? Incidentally, remember He did this foot washing and shared a meal with his friends before His road of suffering.

Jesus, the Son of God and the Son of Man, did not randomly decide to wash feet. He chose the task deliberately. It was the work no one wanted; the grimy, undignified duty of cleansing feet exposed to dust, sweat, and the filth of the road. Yet on this night, one of the most remembered in the life of the Church, He embraced it fully. He shows us intimate unconditional love expressed through humility, servitude, and empathy for the suffering and lowly.  ‘Whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.’ (Matthew 20:27-28)

 In my ministerial journey, I discovered my call to mission  far pays less, than my previous healthcare profession. Eight years ago, I was given a choice: job or mission. I chose mission. Mission pay is less but being in mission every day is transformative. My rule for measuring life’s success went from money-driven to service-driven. ‘Show me your faith apart from your works and I will show you my faith by my works’. (James 2:18) When we answer the call of Jesus we answer the call of serving. This is love. That we should love one another.

My missional vow: strip pride; adjust heart; become vulnerable; and humble myself. Celebrate Jesus.

Jesus’ call on us to love one another is also a call to lay down our lives for each other. This is the command of Jesus: love one another as I have loved you. ‘Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.’ (John 15:13) This Maundy Thursday, let’s all renew our service vows of love. As for me, I will find people who are weary in their life struggles needing a human touch of God’s love.

Let’s pray.

Almighty Father, whose most dear Son, on the night before he suffered, instituted the Sacrament of his Body and Blood: Mercifully grant that we may receive it in thankful remembrance of Jesus Christ our Savior, who in these holy mysteries gives us a pledge of eternal life; and who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen