It’s Maundy Thursday .. two thousand years ago .. the world is in turmoil .. much as today .. powers being abused .. minorities being oppressed .. and yes .. people going hungry .. Jesus asked His disciples to reserve the upper room .. it was a special place where they could observe a special Passover dinner together .. oh yes .. the disciples .. they’ve heard him talk about laying down his life .. but yet .. had no idea He would die in less than twenty four hours .. no .. from the way they saw it .. this night looked more like a celebration of His swift rise to popularity rather than a solemn prelude to His very death .. the truth is .. He had spent the last three years fascinating people with miracles while amazing crowds with his simple .. but yet .. profound teaching .. for yes .. He was recognized as a healer .. a rabbi .. a prophet .. and now .. haha .. it seems a thrilling political candidate .. so yes .. as they gather at the table on that Thursday evening .. we can be pretty darn sure they were expecting Him to make a big announcement .. but yet .. He didn’t .. no sweet friends .. He didn’t wow them with miracles .. He didn’t turn water to wine .. He didn’t give a speech .. He didn’t even tell a parable .. and no .. He didn’t offer them a plan for what happens next .. He’s wasn’t looking to grow a voter base .. haha .. instead He stood silently in the room .. He stripped off His robes until He looked like a slave .. then yes .. He quietly kneeled down and began to wash their feet .. and yes .. the disciples were not only surprised but totally embarrassed .. for no .. this was not the behavior of a king .. however .. with this simple humble gesture on the very last night of His life .. He took the final and bold stand that the root of every problem in the world we live is not the absence of power .. votes .. or .. money .. but yes .. the absence of love .. haha .. so yes yes yes .. the infusion of love must be the beginning of every solution .. and yes .. just as He invited the disciples that night .. He invites us today to follow His plan .. to simply love our neighbors .. and yes .. bless our enemies. .. to continuously be peacemakers .. to be poor in spirit .. to be meek .. and yes .. to stop contending for first place and gladly go last .. for yes sweet friends .. it’s then that we’ll be emptied of selfishness and conceit .. haha .. and yes .. in exchange be motivated by love and not by fear .. for yes .. it’s when we take this on .. as hard as it may seem at times .. we can .. and yes .. we will .. together change the world .. bottom line .. as we reflect on this humbling night .. we’re reminded of the mandate He left us .. which is simply .. we’re all called to love .. for yes .. haha .. oh yeah .. love wins period
“This is my commandment .. that you love one another .. as I have loved you”
#lovewinsperiod