Tonight, as they usually do, actions speak louder than words. “Talk is cheap” they say. “Practice what you preach,” they say. “Walk the talk,” they say. “Don’t do as I say, do as I do,” they say.

Tonight, as they usually do, actions speak louder than words.

We gather on this night after a day of being bombarded with words.

We have been hearing words all day, perhaps from the moment the clock radio went off.

Even since this service has begun, there have been plentiful words. Printed words, words of confession, words of absolution, silent prayerful words, spoken scriptural words, words of proclamation. Soon there will be words of a hymn, words of instruction and words of institution, sung and spoken words, words of invitation and blessing and thanksgiving.

But tonight, as they usually do, actions speak louder than words.

“In obedience to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ, I forgive you all your sins.” Those were the words we heard over and over as this liturgy began. You might have remained seated and listened. But instead most of you engaged in action: movement, kneeling or standing, permitting your head to be touched by very human hands which signified those of Another, the one who commands us to forgive others, the one who this night gives us a new commandment: to love one another.

The people of Israel might have stayed seated around their tables eating the Passover lamb, and the unleavened bread, and the bitter herbs, and thinking about the God who promised to pass through the land of Egypt that night and pass over over their houses. But their actions mattered: sprinkling the blood of the lamb on their doorposts, making everything about their meal “take out” or “to go” – with sandals on their feet, staff in their hand, and loins girded. Ready for action. No staying put.

St. Paul’s words from the second reading recall the night when Jesus was betrayed — this very night on which we gather to remember the same — how Jesus took a loaf of bread and a cup of wine and blessed it and shared it with his friends. Paul recalls the words of Jesus which command action: “Do this.” Eat the bread — do it. Drink the cup — do it. Do it to remember me. And then Paul’s extra words: “For as often as you do it, as often as you eat the bread and as often as you drink the cup, as often as you do it you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. And so tonight, our actions speak louder than our words.

You can either sit there and think stained glass thoughts about “how God so loved the world that God gave the only begotten Son,” and think about his broken body and blood spilled/poured out, or by your actions you can become his body and blood. For in the eating and in the drinking, we become what we receive and we proclaim it by eating the bread and drinking the cup.

So far so good. Comfort zones fairly intact. For the most part. But guess what: there’s one more action which is way more out there than the first two. It has to do with the reason we call this Thursday “maundy” — it’s the Middle English word for mandate — a commandment — what Jesus calls a “new commandment.” “I give you a new commandment,” Jesus says, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

“Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.” And how was that again, Jesus?!

The story that precedes these words of Jesus are the actions which Jesus tells us we “ought” to do. “So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.”

Sisters and brothers, I can’t tell you it will be my pleasure to wash your feet, nor can I tell you it will be your pleasure to bathe mine, or your sister’s or your brother’s. I can’t tell you it will make your holy week complete, or your Easter more joyful. I can only repeat Jesus’ words spoken on this night: “If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.”

So you can sit there and think about loving one another. Or, you can be the April fool, take the towel, and take matters — namely feet — into your own hands. But don’t do as I say, do as I do. For tonight, as they usually do, actions speak louder than words.