DO I DO 'IT'... IN HIS MEMORY?

In  Sir Richard Attenborough’s movie - ‘Gandhi’, there is a memorable scene. 

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi has just returned from South Africa. The famous Congress leaders have assembled in Jinnah’s palatial house… all suited and booted, in their ethnic or imperial best! Jinnah, as usual, smokes his cigars… The impeccably attired waiters are busy going around with their trays serving the guests – rather, the members who have come to attend that meeting 

What meeting is that?

The meeting is to bring for the Indian masses – the millions of poor Indians – freedom from the heavy yoke of British imperialism! 

So, now, they have invited the Messiah of South African Indians to this meeting… He is sitting there, in one corner - all lost, all feeling the discomfort - as each one of those elite leaders speak passionately on liberating the Indian masses from the shackles of foreign rule. And, now, it is Gandhi’s turn. Everyone, out there, is expecting the great Hero of South Africa to stand up and breathe fire… bring down the house!

Yes, Gandhi stands up… slowly moves towards one of the serving waiters, takes the tray from his hands… and goes around the room serving to each one!

 “No, Mr. Gandhi, you can not do that…” every leader reacts, visibly shocked and embarrassed! 

“Sorry my brethren,” asserts Gandhi, “this is the only way, I believe, we can bring forth our own freedom from the slavery!”

 

Gandhi was Gandhi because he fought for ‘freedom’ by deploying such weapons. The weapons of the heart… 

Love, compassion, humility, dignity, courage, faith, self-belief, sacrifice and loads of patience and perseverance!

At that palatial meeting-venue, Gandhi saw the ‘Indian imperialism’ in its ugliest display, and, he wanted to convey to those leaders – that, if they really desired the freedom, they had to be one with the humble masses: be like them, dress like them, eat like them, work like them, dream like them… They had to be brutally humble… and, that was the first thing they had to do. And, right away!

The ‘Servant Act’ had paid off… The History bears the testimony!

Today is ‘Maundy Thursday’. The day of the Last Supper… the Passover Meal!

Jesus Christ, the day before he was crucified, had huddled up in a house with all his disciples. He knew His end was nearing… and, he would not be with them any more… So, He wanted to express his love, gratitude and respect to each one of them, who had been with Him all along, who had left everything and followed Him to this day. 

So, before that Last Supper, he went around washing each disciple’s feet! 

“No Master, You can not do it…” was the reaction of the stunned disciples. 

“This is the only way you can ever hope 

to enter the Kingdom of Heaven… 

to be the mightiest, 

you need to be the humblest, first!” 

was what Christ wanted to teach them 

before He would part.

Then, He broke the bread, and said: “This is my body, given unto you…”

He raised the cup of wine, shared it with his disciples and said, “This wine is the token of God’s new covenant to save you – an agreement sealed with the blood I will pour out for you…”

As He was doing this at Passover Meal, Jesus had urged his Apostles saying, “Do it in memory of me…”

For more than two thousand years, we Christians have been doing it in our churches – on every Mass, every day… we do it as our Master had urged us to. Yes, we do it in His memory…

We kneel down, close our eyes and confess:

“Lord, I am not worthy that You should enter my soul,

But, say one word, and I shall be healed.”

Today is Holy Thursday…

The day my Master had knelt down at each of his Apostle’s feet - to wash them…

The day he had urged ME to ‘do it’ in His memory… till He would come again!

GERALD D’CUNHA

Pics.: Gloria Pinto