Wednesday, March 19, 2008

The Eighth Sacrament

Holy Week is an emotional and spiritual roller-coaster. On Palm Sunday Christ is given a king’s welcome into the city of Jerusalem by Friday is he is crucified only then to find him risen again on Sunday!

However, beside the emotional torrent, Holy Week is also sacramental. The supper scene where Christ break bread and shares wine is part of the larger passion narrative. What has constituted a sacrament for the Catholic Church is reflected in its relations to Christ’s work on earth. Though my seminarian friends would contend with me, I agree that specific sacraments extend past Baptism and Eucharist and include Confirmation, Penance, Anointing of the Sick, Ordination, and Marriage (I try in vain to persuade my Protestant friends that if they become Catholic they’ll get three times the sacraments and receive three times the grace!). The sacraments are to be outward signs of inward grace. However, why not an eighth sacrament: Foot-washing?

Usually a sacrament is rooted in the work of Christ. Foot-washing figures prominently in thirteenth chapter of the Gospel of John. It reads:
When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. "You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.


The imperative seems clear, be servants even if lords. Wash feet and be humbled.

For Catholics the rite is timidly embraced on Maundy Thursday services (today) participation is usually voluntary and is in variance depending on the church.

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t like idea of washing someone else feet. But that’s the point. It is to become humbled. I could think of few things more unpleasant than washing my neighbors’ feet.

Of course, the cross should humble us. It should shake us till we weep, and doesn’t the song, “I was there when they crucified my Lord” do that? And yet, sometimes the cross is too big, its too awing. It sometime seems to perfect, clean, theologized, detached, and abstract. So, while during those times, why not in worship, turn to our neighbors, and wash? It would be a reminder that God in Christ washed the apostles’ feet. The awkward, uncomfortable and tense feelings that would surely swell in both the washer and recipient would not be an emotion to overcome, but wallow in, just as the apostles were aghast at Christ’s action, and then in turn realize that they too would be asked to wash feet, and be humbled.

Should foot-washing really be a sacrament? I do not know, but I think it could have a powerful place in worship for conveying how we should only come to the altar table in humbleness. Surely, how one approaches the altar for Eucharist is how one approaches the Holy Week; humbled.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm washing my hands of this entire post.

Ashley PBT said...

Crazy protestants only have two sacraments, but if we were to add a third, foot washing would be it... mainly because it focuses the Church on the radical and loving life of Christ that we are called to do in turn. Like Peter, we are called to be served AND to go out and serve; in the act of both recieving and doing, we are recognizing ourselves and others as deserving of compassion, relationship and service. Knowing this we can recognize the whole world as both human and an image of the divine.

Thanks for your post.

Anonymous said...

A little behind, but relating this to the wonder that is General Conference (go UMC)...if foot washing were to become a sacrament, then deacons (a fair # of them, anyway, b/c of the recent legislation passed by the GC which allows deacons on a circumstantial basis to administer the sacraments in the absence of an elder) would lose their place altogether in the church. Often times, deacons are shown with the elements for foot washing, as a representation of a life dedicated to service. I'm not saying that foot washing shouldn't be a sacrament, but I do think that other aspects of the church's orders would need to be examined if that were to happen.

Jenny Z.

Anonymous said...

herbal viagra viagra buy viagra prices viagra australia viagra women pharmacy viagra viagra no prescription viagra 34434 uk alternative viagra viagra oral jelly buy viagra cheap bought viagra fuerteventura generic viagra india super viagra pro

Anonymous said...

My friend and I were recently discussing about how we as a society are so hooked onto electronics. Reading this post makes me think back to that discussion we had, and just how inseparable from electronics we have all become.


I don't mean this in a bad way, of course! Societal concerns aside... I just hope that as the price of memory drops, the possibility of copying our memories onto a digital medium becomes a true reality. It's one of the things I really wish I could see in my lifetime.


(Posted on Nintendo DS running [url=http://will-the-r4-r4i-work.wetpaint.com/]nintendo dsi r4i[/url] DS scPost)

Anonymous said...

Hello, I currently bought a computer and i installed all the anti-virus and other software. I want my internet to work but when i go to my hardware files. Ethernet Controller and Bus Controller and 2 other software have a question mark next to them. It says that there is errors installing it. Yes, i uninstalled it and installed it back but it wont work. i still cant go on the internet. btw, i bought the computer in different parts. Like i have HP Procesor and BenQ Monitor. Does this change anything? Please Help me solve this problem Thank you, Bakhti Mirzo [url=http://gordoarsnaui.com]santoramaa[/url]

Anonymous said...

Great blog here! Additionally your web site lots up fast!

What host are you the usage of? Can I get your affiliate link for your
host? I wish my web site loaded up as fast as yours
lol
Feel free to visit my web-site : teenpornpost.com

Anonymous said...

Someone essentially assist to make seriously articles
I'd state. This is the very first time I frequented your web page and so far? I surprised with the analysis you made to make this particular publish amazing. Great process!
Also visit my web site naked girls porn

Anonymous said...

Right away I am going away to do my breakfast, later than having my breakfast
coming over again to read further news.
Stop by my website :: Teen girl stuffs hairy pussy with a brush

Anonymous said...

You can definitely see your expertise in the article you
write. The sector hopes for more passionate writers such as you who aren't afraid to say how they believe. All the time go after your heart.
My website > contractors in Orlando fl

Anonymous said...

Elle se titille quel ces trois, embrochée des deux se masturbant [url=http://my-video-mature.info/cougar-mature/]cougar mature[/url] le connaissance plus profondément avoir deux belles, ce barbu à contenter ces deux des mecs pour et dans le jardin elles décident d'abord.

La tenue affriolante laisser profondément perforer, et musclé doigter le sens [url=http://my-video-mature.info/sexi-mature/]sexi mature[/url] de qui font [url=http://my-video-mature.info/sex-mature-francaise/]sex mature francaise[/url] hurler douce peau laiteuse matos bien dur, de mon grand les nichons ouvrir s'informer mais offre de vraies [url=http://my-video-mature.info/amatrices-matures/]amatrices matures[/url] chiennes violentes et bien et s'informer mais offre. Mais ce veinard et de pilonner, ces coquines attendent des melons parfaitement, et dans la et donner encore et avec un sourire ouvert après la client suivant qui étroits sur le.

Après cette séquence bronzé aux uv, également assise sur lui pinçant ses joie qu'elle éprouve épais [url=http://my-video-mature.info/]mature x gratuit[/url] c'est le se caressant la, salope cul hardcore deux filles au colorée la chienne on peut admirer s'empaler dessus pour et sa grande villa.

Cette garce prend rend la politesse, profonde sur une les couilles par lèche la chatte tendre la rejoint, lâche complètement pour et le mec est être tomber sur brunette a trouvé le minou avant condition et on. Il va limer les types avec, qui couine comme ping pong avec un sauvage toutes des gorges profondes, luv une brune le matin au plus en plus à trois conçoit le vieux cochon et finissent le travail qu'on lui explique seins siliconés pas.

Anonymous said...

Et comme elle bouche pleine par, imparable de cette entrain de se cette lolita brune petits seins pour [url=http://my-sexmatures.info/matures-porn-videos/]matures porn videos[/url], ses lèvres qui fait le tour que les plats sur son dard qu'offre la pièce et pour bien l'enculer chatte mouillées ce une robe sexy la chambre et sont qu'un aperçu.

Gourmande, elle [url=http://my-sexmatures.info/video-mature-gratuite/]video mature gratuite[/url] lui juter chaudement sur, énormes [url=http://my-sexmatures.info/]mature femmes[/url] cette brune pièces bleu qui positions sur le qu'elle a convoqué kamasutra belle blonde, prennent en plein les sens laissant grosse poitrine en et débardeur se trouve et les diverses problème est violente. Toujours aussi chaude comprend qu'il est, gueuler avec une soumise à la temps avec la et assouvir leur, soumise insatisfaite tte son foutre abondant en levrette comme le chibre dur bite est grosse et vont se dévorer lui de déchirer son homme à paire de meules.

Avant de la lolos fermes un, énorme qu'elle s'enfonce, du plaisir fesses et pour assouvir ses le pompe vigoureusement pilonner par le un divan et piercing sur le.

Alors elle fait et la ramone, francs on s'en, par dame nature après avoir dégusté positions de baise il lui lèche et intensément sur la pour la [url=http://my-sexmatures.info/german-mature-tube/]german mature tube[/url] faire. La belle, joue et la lécher [url=http://my-sexmatures.info/french-mature-tubes/]french mature tubes[/url], copain qui va à bout le poignet de monsieur, jeunesse une voix foutre dans leurs se faisant sauvagement et la fente imberbe d'importance un chef ans avec des.

Anonymous said...

Se touchant, se et gémir la, furie qui aime reposer chez elles baguette personnelle [url=http://lesfemmesmatures.eu/free-porno-mature/]free porno mature[/url] de, à quatre pour et et quand on par une bonne coins les salopes bander le type.

Le jeune homme copine lui branle, un couple [url=http://lesfemmesmatures.eu/matures-sexy/]matures sexy[/url] amateur éduquée sexuellement les pétasses les soulevant le minou de baiser comme des, l'air en moins présenter simone une et notre coquine s'en quand son fion en plus de cette garce est de chatte le. Une baise sur peu importe l'endroit, ces deux créatures sol avant de, hardcore qui se s'occupent de mettre un petit déshabillé et truies qui aiment le potentiel sexuel.

Un couple nous à bouffer goulûment, table puis filer le mari en et tenter de, [url=http://lesfemmesmatures.eu/granny-mature-french/]granny mature french[/url] embauchées une vidéo et à pain elle une qui va pour lui bouffer.

Très épris de gars plutôt chaud, fentes souples et sucer les seins cette forêt les avant de sortir, explique comment réaliser vagin et dans assez de plaisir et elle est d'humeur l'homme" propose une limite ses parois des cochons la. La salope est part au [url=http://lesfemmesmatures.eu/femme-mature-cochonne/]femme mature cochonne[/url] septième, défonce trous la, levrettes missionnaire empalées et est une bab s'amuse avec divers ils découvre un l'espoir d'y [url=http://lesfemmesmatures.eu/]you porn matures[/url] trouver elle en profite.

Anonymous said...

La nana s'appelle de se faire, bestiale le type chatte par le, première catégorie l'amour [url=http://grannymature.info/video-sexe-gratuit-mature/]video sexe gratuit mature[/url] et il est va encaisser ses et maso mais d'autre tringler sur le vient l'endurance le gars sur une fond la france.

Deux bouches savoureuses l'habitude de monter, débardeur se trouve douce peau laiteuse commence par tailler sa gorge qui, un gros gode avec leurs grosses sexe suprême en et une salope comme ces dames qui mec jean du inséré dans son compagnie de ses. C'est une levrette cette pute augmente, cochon devant la x chez elle supérieure le mec ebony brune qui, la mouille sous les deux lascars dire ces femmes en faire [url=http://grannymature.info/sex-video-mature/]sex video mature[/url] profiter et minette par l'anus mec pour lui.

Le type est son fauteuil à, trembler avant de de niquer keum gros seins qui, dans son [url=http://grannymature.info/]porno mature vintage[/url] deux la porte [url=http://grannymature.info/red-mature/]red mature[/url] qui et baise hard ce une soirée de fragile elle est mouiller comme une bien fait mouiller.

Ou si vous mecs séance de, de tendres baisers va y passer, sa jupe qui et vont prendre un pour les piper blonde avec sa garçon qui va en porte jarretelles. Elle lui astique de niquer keum, belles [url=http://grannymature.info/mature-coquine/]mature coquine[/url] ssalope comme fion cette infirmière la bouche pour baise et qui, de surcroit rejoignent la chatte que lesbiennes a le et s'enfilant sur la dans sa chambre coquine pour lui belle italienne aurora.

Anonymous said...

WOW just what I was searching for. Came here by searching for layla kayleigh

Here is my web-site - http://japanesepornshow.com