The Towel & The Cup

HOLY THURSDAY. Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; Gospel – John 13:1-15. Theme: The Towel and the Cup

Well, here we are, having arrived at the Sacred Triduum after a totally unexpected way of living out our Lent this year.  It’s strange to not be excitedly running around to preparing for Easter Sunday in the usual ways. And to think that instead of being gathered together in our parish church we will find ourselves still sheltering in and practicing social distancing.

But for me, these inconveniences have become a blessing of sorts. Since there isn’t much happening to distract me, I’ve been moved to deeply ponder what this most holy night really means and how, in the Upper Room of the Last Supper, Jesus gave us two farewell gifts before entering into his Passion.  The first gift is the New Commandment of Love demonstrated in the washing of feet and the second is that of the Eucharist as the New Passover Meal. Along with the first gift Jesus institutes the Diaconate and with the second gift he gives us the Priesthood. Two complementary gifts of loving service and of self-giving to his Church.

I hope you don’t mind if I take you with me as I delve a bit more deeply into the first gift and ponder aloud what it means to be a deacon.  Because, you see, I think it will actually end up showing what this Holy Thursday gift means for you as well.   I can confidently make this connection between you and me, because the Church sees deacons as a link, a bridge, between the parish and the people.

The reason for this is that we deacons have a foot in two worlds, so to speak.  Like bishops and priests, we are clergy, not laity. With them we are ordained to share in the apostolic ministry of teaching and leadership in the Church. But with you is where we deacons spend the bulk of our lives and ministry, bringing Christ out into the regular world among those with whom we live, work and socialize. Our role of solidarity with laypeople, of bridge-building, is important to keep in mind as we continue on with my Holy Thursday musings.

First of all, let’s revisit for a brief moment the fact that the seed of the diaconate was planted in the Church at the Last Supper with the washing of feet. Notice, though, that at the same time the command of Jesus to humble serve, to love as he loves, was given to all his disciples on that holy night. The fact that the deacon is singled out is simply another way of saying to us, “You are a link, a bridge, a connection. You must live as a sign and a symbol of what I have called all to do.” In other words, my vocation exists because of you. My vocation only makes sense in relationship with you.

And just so we don’t lose sight of what we deacons are called to be for your sake, even the way the we dress for liturgy is a reminder of our roots in the Upper Room on Holy Thursday. You might recall that deacons wear the stole (a long strip of cloth which is a sign of Holy Orders) from the left shoulder to the right hip, while priests and bishops wear it around the neck. This is because the deacon’s stole is a symbol of the Towel of Jesus which he wrapped around himself during the foot washing.  You know, when Pope Francis washes feet at his Holy Thursday Mass, he takes his stole and turns it sideways like a deacon. And only then does he begin the menial task of washing feet. Even the pope reminds us that to be a deacon means by definition to be a servant (which, by the way, it what the word “deacon” means in its original Greek roots).

The other gift of Holy Thursday that speaks to my heart is the Mass, the Memorial of the Lord’s Supper. You know, during the first three centuries of Church persecution, deacons were entrusted with hiding and protecting two precious items used for Mass:  the Cup of the Eucharist and the Book of Scriptures.  This is why even today you see a Deacon carrying the Book of the Gospels into Mass and also elevating the Cup of the Lord’s Blood at the end of the Eucharistic Prayer.

We deacons have a unique and special connection with these two sacred moments of the Mass. But we also have a unique and special connection with you who make up the worshipping congregation at Mass. Here, too, we have our place as a connecting link between priest and people. Have you noticed that the deacon says the “peoples’ parts” of the Mass along with you, while the priest does not? This is because we stand at the altar in your place. We carry each one of you with us to this sanctuary of consecration where your gifts of bread and wine will be transformed into the Body and Blood of the Lord.

I think that we deacons are very much like the Towel and the Cup of Holy Thursday that symbolize our vocation. Ordinary everyday items that have been conscripted for Extraordinary Use.  Really, like the Towel and the Cup we are of very little importance in and of ourselves. It is how God uses us for your sake that makes the difference. We are simply meant to be servants who wash your feet by means of our ministry. We are called to act as servants on your behalf when we offer the Holy Eucharist with you.

When you see a deacon, what should come to your mind is the glorious and beautiful vocation to love and to serve others that Christ has given you.

When you see a deacon, you should praise God that he has chosen you to worship, adore and receive the most precious Gift of his Son’s Body and Blood at the table of the Eucharist.

When you see a deacon, think only of Christ the Servant-Savior and what he has done for you in his Passion, which begins on this most holy night.