If you don't like it, I won't!
Hoy, walang hiya!
Hey, you, shameless sloth!
Holy Wednesday Reflection
04 April 2012
Scripture text: John 13: 1-18
BAKIT AYAW MO?
Why don't you like it?
Jesus faced with the inevitable arrest, trial and crucifixion, gathered his disciples for a dinner and a ritual of servanthood, foot washing. The very understanding of foot washing has been emphasized in pastoral ministry formation. Just like how Jesus acted out not just the idea of it but the very act of serving the people in whatever circumstances.
However there is so much paychological and politcal underpinnings when we read the biblical narrative of the foot washing, aside from the ritualistic act that it carries with it.
When Jesus approach to wash Peter's feet, the latter refused to be washed. Peter supposed that Jesus, the teacher should not stoop down in washing his feet. He would rather do the act to him. Jesus told him, "kung ayaw mo, di hwag" "if you don't like it, I won't insist." But Jesus teach him the deeper meaning of what he was doing, if Peter won't be washed, then he won't be a part of what we stood for. Illustrating the scope and commitment to servanthood Jesus washed the disciples' feet as one final act of being with them and for the disciples to challenge the powers that assume dominant control over people's lives. This is one final act that in commitment to the marginalized, servanthood means giving your all, even your own life.
Frequent washing of hands or checking one's face on the mirror is a kind of psychological disfunction. Interesting though, for us to know the compulsion to wash and be made clean, we must be reminded that the excessive urge to wash to feel clean constitute obsessive compulsive disorder.
Wikipedia.org defines Obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) as an anxiety disorder characterized by intrusive thoughts that produce uneasiness, apprehension, fear, or worry, by repetitive behaviors aimed at reducing the associated anxiety, or by a combination of such obsessions and compulsions. Symptoms of the disorder include excessive washing or cleaning; repeated checking; extreme hoarding; preoccupation with sexual, violent or religious thoughts; aversion to particular numbers; and nervous rituals, such as opening and closing a door a certain number of times before entering or leaving a room.
I remember the heated discussion during the 1991 UCCP constitutional convention in which one of the delberations was on the title of the ecclesial head of the Conference, a Conference is more or less similar to a presbytery or a diocese. Three titles were proposed, Conference Moderator, Conference Bishop and Conference Minister. The first title was thought to be outdated, so the discussions focused on the last two. The proponents for the Conference Bishop were head on and persuasive with their justifications, at one point, the Concon President, former senator Jovito Salonga commented that Jesus did not want to be called with such titles like a bishop or with some other titles, but simply a servant, a teacher or the son of man. It is important for us to reconsider our positions or the way we think about ourselves in view of the ethical demands for servanthood amongst our people. In this sense, we can reverse the negative connotation of 'Kung ayaw mo, di hwag' into postive way of refusing to be always pedestalled in relation to other people.
HOY, WALANG HIYA!
Hey, you shameless sloth!
Another inevitable situation is Judas betrayal of Jesus. The dinner ensued and the foot washing ritual finished and the moment of truth has come. Jesus told them that one of them will betray him. The gathered disciples were confused and in disbelief of what Jesus revealed. They don't have any idea who the betrayer is. I would think in this intense and stressful situation some of them could have cursed or uttered "Sino ba ang walang hiya na ito?" "Who is this shameless sloth?" "Sinong makapal ang mukha na ipinagkanulo ang ating guro?" "Who is this shameless betrayer of our teacher?"
Judas from the place called Escariot was frustrated that Jesus' way of struggle was of self-sacrifice, a kind of suicide instead of insurrection. Judas was a member of rhe insurrectionist group called the Zealots waging an armed struggle against the imperial power of Rome which was in collusion with the Jewish temple authorities. They wanted to overthrow the power of Rome and the temple authorities. With what Jesus was doing, it is better that he be arrested and penalized so that people will shelve his work. Betrayal was the right thing to for Judas.
A good friend and teacher is sold for pieces of silver. A person has been a means toward a particular end, and that is horrible. Judas is the shameless sloth but those who bribed him with thirty pieces of silver were the disfunctional Jewish temple authorities who feared losing their control of the people.
Once again Wikipedia has this definition of betrayal:
Betrayal (or backstabbing) is the breaking or violation of a presumptive contract, trust, or confidence that produces moral and psychological conflict within a relationship amongst individuals, between organizations or between individuals and organizations.
Often betrayal is the act of supporting a rival group, or it is a complete break from previously decided upon or presumed norms by one party from the others. Someone who betrays others is commonly called a traitor or betrayer.
Ngayon, sabihin mo, sino ang totoong walang hiya?
Now tell me who is the real shameless sloth?
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Photo by Tanya Rochat
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