FEW HOURS AWAY

FEW HOURS AWAY

Fr. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara CSsR

Homily for Holy Thursday, 2010

Holy Names Church

Memphis, TN

Jesus Christ is the sinless, eternal Son of God. He is the spotless Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (John 1: 29). The gospel of Matthew says that Jesus began his mission of preaching the good news by touring all of Galilee: “Jesus toured all ofGalilee. He taught in their synagogues, proclaimed the good news of the kingdom, and cured the people of every disease and illness” (Matthew 4: 23). To make sure his message was well spread, Matthew tells us that “Jesus continued his tour of all the towns and villages. He taught in their synagogues, he proclaimed the good news of God’s reign, he cured every sickness and disease” (Matthew 9: 35). Jesus did not only make himself present, he toured all the towns and villages teaching, proclaiming, feeding and healing people. Acts 10: 38 says that Jesus went about doing good, healing all who were under the power of the devil because God was with him. He opened the eyes of the blind, he cleansed the leper; he raised the dead; he fed thousands who came to listen to him; he was all things to all people. He gave hope to the hopeless; life to the lifeless. He restored the woman caught in the act of adultery and forgave the prodigal son. Jesus gave his entire life for the life of others.

But brethren, few hours away, the one that cured and healed every sickness will be rejected all. Few hours away, the one that proclaimed the most beautiful message “God is love” will be denied love. Few hours away, the hands that blessed everyone will be nailed to the cross. Few hours away, the feet that walked everywhere bringing healing, relief, restoration, joy, hope and love will be bound to the stake. The mouth that spoke the most beautiful message “God is love, God loves you” will cry and scream of abandonment. Few hours away the one that had passion for us because he cares about us will experience his passion. Few hours away, the Good Shepherd will be attacked by wolfs. Few hours away, the Way to eternal happiness will be will blocked. Few hours away, the Truth will be rejected. Few hours away the One who is Life will breathe his last. Few hours away, men and women will choose darkness rather than the Light. Few hours away humans will prefer bland life to the Salt of the earth. Few hours away, wickedness will be unleashed on the Just One that speaks against all the injustices in our world. Few hours away, the friend of the poor will be crucified. Remember he is the Poor One who stands in solidarity with all the poor in the world. Few hours away, He will be cursed and treated as a common criminal. Few hours away, wickedness will reign supreme. Evil will appear to have conquered him. Few hours away, the Soul of life will be killed. Few hours away, darkness will seize our world; Satan will go on rampage; darkness will appear to have overcome the light. Jesus will appear to have been overwhelmed by pains. Few hours away, Jesus our Savior will experience the greatest rejection by the same people he toiled and sweated for. Few hours away the same people that cheered “Hosanna in the highest” few days ago will turn around to cheer “Crucify him!”

But Jesus was not taken by surprise. He was not unaware of what awaits him. He was well aware that he was about to be betrayed. You may think that such knowledge would have easily turned him to bitterness and hatred. But it made his heart run out in greater love than ever. The staggering thing was that the more they hurt him, the more Jesus loved them. It is very easy and sometimes so natural to resent betrayal and to grow bitter under insult and injury; but Jesus met the greatest injury and the greatest rejection and hatred with the greatest humility and profound love.

The Lord knew what awaits him. But before that, he demonstrated the most profound example of humility, love and service. He washed the feet of his disciples. Life inPalestine in the time of Jesus was hard. The roads were dusty. In dry weather they were inches deep in dust and in wet they were liquid mud. The popular means of transport was your feet. The shoes ordinary people wore were sandals, which were simply soles held on to the foot by a few straps. They had little protection against the dust or the mud of the road. People walked long distances on rough, dusty and muddy roads to go from Galilee to Jerusalem, for example. Travelers often arrived their destinations with sore and aching feet. As a sign of hospitality, the host would see to it that his guests were given a warm foot bath and massage as a way of relieving their aches and pains. This was usually done by the house servants or slaves.

Few hours away before Jesus was crucified, he did something that none of his disciples, that none of us was prepared to do. The Master and Lord became the slave and the servant; he washed the feet of his disciples. In our worldly way of thinking, a student does not deserve more honor than the teacher; and a servant does not deserve more honor than the master. A common man in America does not deserve more honor than President Obama. A common man in Nigeria does not deserve more honor than the Acting President, Jonathan Goodluck. But Jesus washed the feet of his disciples showing them and showing us how we must behave towards each other.

This should make us think. Our society is full of people who are standing on what they have- money, power, influence, educational degrees, connections, associations etc when they ought to be kneeling at the feet of their brothers and sisters. By standing on our money, power, influence, academic qualifications, and associations we let all that define us. We begin to place ourselves in a different level. We end up belittling our brothers and sisters who do not have what we have. But when you are tempted to stand on your money, prestige etc, try to see again the picture of Jesus, tied around him a towel, kneeling at the feet of disciples washing their feet.

You are truly great if you have the humility of service, the humility to serve others. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said “Everybody can be great…because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love.” Our Lord Jesus himself says “The greatest among you must be your servant” (Matthew. 23:11)