March 25thSacred Discomfort
To my dear TFMC family,
We are approaching the last week of Lent. Palm Sunday marks the final seven days—more or less—of Jesus' life on earth. This last week of Lent also means that for those of us who've either fasted from something or tried to pick up something new, you only have one more week of your fast. Easter will be a true celebration. In our home, we've been fasting from snacking before going to bed. I do miss my chips at night.
Beyond this, however, the church is moving into an important season of both commemoration and formation. Jesus' actions on Maundy Thursday—specifically the washing of feet—have been ignored by some contemporary Christians because of their level of discomfort. I get it, allowing another to handle your feet, even tenderly, is a vulnerability which many of us aren’t ready for.
Yet, it was a sign and a symbol of Jesus' vision both for his followers and for what the church could, and I may even dare to say should be. I believe that evening, Jesus was modelling for the disciples that God’s church is a place of radical vulnerability and radical servanthood. It's a place where the ego is set aside to serve the other, placing the other's needs ahead of our own.
I see this as an example of the service we are called to, and even the kind of community that Jesus calls us to be. In some fashion, Jesus is calling us out of our comfort zones and deliberately making us uncomfortable.
And it's curious how Jesus does this, he takes the common then, and makes it special. Here, Jesus takes the common practice of washing dirty feet, and transforms it into a practice which reflects his vision for God’s Church. Just like how in the other gospels Jesus takes common table items, bread, and wine, and turns them into something special.
The Gospel of John doesn't include communion formally. Some theologians consider some of Jesus' early miracles to be John's allusions to communion. For example, in the Wedding at Cana Jesus is sharing the cup, and when Jesus feeds the multitudes, Jesus is sharing the bread. I would see these, as similar, Jesus taking common events, and making them sacred, special, enchanted.
I don't think Jesus ever promised following him would be comfortable. And I also don’t think Jesus intended us to stay in that discomfort forever. There’s a purpose to it. Footwashing wasn’t just about humility. It was about transformation. When we allow ourselves to be vulnerable, when we set aside our ego to serve, we become the people who truly receive grace.
As we move into Holy Week, I invite you to lean into the discomfort. Whether it’s finishing your fast, sitting with someone who challenges you, or simply pausing to ask how you can serve rather than be served—these are the moments where the church becomes what Jesus envisioned.
Yours,
Craig Janzen Neufeld, Pastor