Hello, dear friend.
I usually donât show up in your inbox until Friday mornings, and I will tomorrow, but I shared some words on social media this morning about Maundy Thursday and I felt led by the Spirit to share them here with you, too. So, here they are along with a few Maundy Thursday resources and a blessing. May this bless you and keep you on this most holy and sacred day.
Today is whatâs known as Maundy Thursday in the church calendar. The day that commemorates Jesus washing the feet of His disciples and The Last Supper where He broke the bread and gave of the cup. Itâs the day before that dark, sacred day that we know as Good Friday. The Friday when the Savior died a brutal death so that He could rise and be with us again.
Iâve been meditating on John 13:4â5 this morning where Jesus got up from the table, wrapped a towel around His waist, filled a basin full of water, and bowed low to wash His disciplesâ feet.
âNoâ, said Peter, âyou shall never wash my feet.â (v. 8)
What an interesting reaction to such a tender act of love. But itâs one I know well â this pushing away of Love and intimacy as the Lord comes close and I resist, feeling too unworthy, too dirty, to be washed by such holy hands.
Jesus answered him, âUnless I wash you, you have no part with me.â
Unless we let Him love us, we wonât be able to live from love. We wonât know love, we wonât know Him, we wonât know ourselves or be able to love other souls well.
Allowing Jesus to wash our feet is an invitation toward the deepest kind of intimacy. One that heals and restores and washes completely clean that which keeps us from seeing Him. One that leads to this emptying and breaking open so that we can live in wholeness.
So that we can wash the feet of others because when we choose to bow low and love other souls, itâs really Jesus weâre choosing to love. Loving His image in each face we see, thatâs the ultimate commission.
So Jesus, help us receive the washing of our feet as your holy hands heal and make it all clean. And may we give the love we have been given, washing the feet of everyone we see because when we wash their feet, itâs you weâre truly glorifying.
Amen.
Peace be with you,
Celia
Resources for Maundy Thursday
This morning, I very much enjoyed this Maundy Thursday reflection from The Daily Still Podcast. It was very powerful, entering into The Last Supper and The Garden of Gethsemane with Jesus. Listen here: The Last Supper â Holy Thursday
The Discerning Leader Podcast has also been talking about Holy Week. And today, they released a new episode that walks you through Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday. Listen here: Reengaging the Passion
My Sacred Ordinary Days planner provides a lectionary for Maundy Thursday and all the days in Holy Week. A lectionary is a set of specific Scripture passages that are typically read during church services throughout specific times of the year. Here is todayâs lectionary if youâd like to read along and meditate on them with the Holy Spirit:
Exodus 12:1â14
Psalm 116:1â2, 12â19
1 Corinthians 11:23â26
John 13:1â17, 31â35
A Maundy Thursday Blessing
May you receive the love that Christ came to give.
May you fully enter into the breaking of bread and the washing of feet.
May you remember that loving the person in front of you means loving the Savior well.
May you be brave in staying in the garden of pain where Jesus cried out for the cup to be taken.
And may you bear witness to your own pain, holding it up to the Light of Love â the Love that came to wash all your sins away.
The Love that came to stay.
Amen.
I love the washing of the feet. I knew today was holy Thursday but never the actual name. Have a blessed day and weekend.