Bunions and All: The Radical Love of Christ

Rev. Phoebe invites us into Jesus' final teaching to his disciples on the night before his crucifixion, when he gives them what he calls a 'new commandment' to love one another. What makes this commandment ‘new' when loving thy neighbor was already central to Jewish faith? Jesus isn't asking us to love others as we love ourselves, because many of us struggle with self-love. Instead, he commands us to love as he loves us - unconditionally, tenderly, and completely. Through the intimate act of foot washing, we see love redefined not as a feeling but as humble service that accepts the dirty, broken, and imperfect parts of ourselves and others. This message challenges us to move beyond the limitations of the golden rule and embrace a love so radical that it becomes the unmistakable mark of true discipleship.