A basin of water, a fresh-baked loaf of bread, wine ready to be poured out, these are things we can get our hands on. These tangible things wash over us, fill our mouths, and warm us with the love of God.
God’s love is so deep it can’t be contained in a basin, a basket or a cup. It overflows all over the place, all over this whole world.
Jesus invites his followers to be a part of sharing that love. In fact he gives it as a new commandment (or “mandate” from which we get the term “Maundy Thursday).
Jesus says, “Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another,” (John 13:34).
Yes, Lord. If you say so, we know it is good and right to do. We know it is right because you showed us. We know it is right because you did it first.
We know it is right, but do we do it? Do we really love as Jesus first loved us?
It is one thing to do to others as you would have them to do to you. We can weigh and measure such things.
Would I want my friend to talk to me in that tone of voice? Would I want my colleague to ignore a deadline? Would I want my son to flippantly say, “I don’t know“?
That kind of loving we understand. We may not always like it, but when we bring these questions to mind we can see a way forward.
This new commandment though, to love as Jesus loves? How do we even measure that kind of love? Even if we do take pause to think about the implications for that in our lives, how do we even begin to love that much?
The only way we could possibly begin to love that much is when we ourselves are completely overwhelmed with Jesus’ love in our lives.
That’s why we keep getting our feet washed, why we keep eating bread and drinking wine.
That’s why we keep returning to the cross. That’s why Good Friday is “good.”
We keep these rituals and practices to absorb the magnificence of Jesus’ love for us. And as we ourselves are immersed in that love, we are filled with it and we exude it and can’t help but overflow with it.
May God be with you in your observance of these holy days, as you experience the love of Jesus, soak in it, eat all the crumbs, and lap it up. May you see, hear, feel, smell, and taste his love as you return to the cross. May you be assured to the depths of your being that his love conquers death.
May his love fill you to overflowing.
To listen to an audio version of this reflection that I recorded for the Life & Liberty podcast click the overflowing fountain below:
Jennifer Clark Tinker 
Posted by Ramona on March 29, 2013 at 11:28 pm
And also with you! (Says the I-grew-up-Lutheran girl!) Great post!
Posted by Jennifer Clark Tinker on March 29, 2013 at 11:30 pm
Thanks Ramona!
Posted by Life & Liberty Online Magazine | Spirituality | Politics | Health | Faith | Liberty on April 17, 2014 at 6:24 am
[…] note: This reflection originally appeared on my blog as If You Say So: Reflecting on These Holy Days. Click the title to view or print the text of the […]