Reflection
Foot washing was a common gesture of hospitality in ancient times when walking was the main form of transportation and sandals a primary sort of foot ware. A person of lower status - a slave, a servant, or a child – was almost always the one who did the washing. A teacher would never wash his disciples’ feet. And yet, on the night of his arrest and betrayal, the night of the Last Supper (the first Holy Communion), on the day we commemorate as Maundy Thursday Jesus washes his disciples’ feet.
The “Maundy” in Maundy Thursday comes from the Latin “mandatum” meaning “command.” Jesus explains he is giving disciples “a new commandment,” that they “love one another.” It might seem strange to us at first – how can Jesus command an emotion? No one can be forced to feel love. And then Jesus explains: The act of foot washing, the act of servant leadership, is the way in which Jesus’ disciples will learn to love. Through serving our neighbors we come to love them.
In the mid-90s Redeemer became a host site for DuPage PADS, a group committed to providing emergency housing for homeless neighbors. Redeemer housed 60+ men, women and children on Saturday nights from May through September for almost 15 years. Our members recruited other area churches to make meals, assist guests, and do laundry. Our 2017 Renewing Redeemer Renovation project took into consideration the needs of our homeless neighbors, installing extra bathroom stalls and creating more power outlets in our lower level.
Many people are surprised that a congregation in Hinsdale would host a homeless shelter. It seems like this might be an activity too lowly for a church in our area. Members of other churches that partner with us in this effort have said that their own churches would never agree to host, fearing damage to their buildings and complaints from the neighbors. In Hinsdale we have found the police and fire departments to be supportive and our neighborhood welcoming. We have been glad that our building gets used in service, even if this means extra cleaning of the bathrooms and carpets. Over the years we have come to love our homeless neighbors. Many volunteers say they get more out of service than they feel they give.
During COVID Redeemer helped to organize meal delivery to PADS guests currently housed in hotels, one of which Du Page PADS has purchased. While we are glad for this more stable housing option for our neighbors, we know that this means our church may no longer be needed as a housing site. We wonder what this will mean for Redeemer. Will our faith community still rally around homeless ministry if it is no longer in our building? Is it time for us to seek out a new ministry partner or explore new ways of serving now that PADS has increased stability? We know that Jesus has commanded us to love and has shown us the way to do so is in service. How might we live out this call going forward?
