Maundy Thursday Meditation

Meditation by Rev. Mary Alice Mulligan, Ph.D.

Scripture, John 13:1-17, 31-35

The scene John paints goes against everything we would do if we were Jesus in similar circumstances. He knows the religious and civil authorities have joined together in their desire to be rid of him.  The crowds were all full of Hosanna Woo-hoo, just a few days ago, as he entered Jerusalem, but he can sense the temperature dropping and a serious wind change. Any of us would either hightail it back to Galilee, or gather the most faithful disciples around us, retreat to an upper room, and let them take care of us. When all hell is about to break loose, we just want a safe place and people who will protect and comfort us. But not Jesus. When the worst conceivable thing is about to happen, Jesus pulls his closest disciples aside and instead takes care of them. He kneels down and washes their feet. Stop and read John 13:1-17, 31-35. 

The St Andrew congregation understands much of this teaching. We love each other; we treasure one another. We extend the love of God out into Sarasota and around the world with our congregational outreach. Every person who walks in the door senses an immediate acceptance of who they are. People know we are disciples of Jesus Christ, because of our love. So, we already get what seems to be the big point of the Maundy Thursday teaching from Jesus. 

But tonight, let me encourage us to feel what else went on in that upper room. With death threats practically pounding on the door, Jesus humiliates himself by washing his disciples’ feet, a task ordinarily assigned to the lowliest servant in the house. Jesus kneels at his followers’ feet, to show them how much they are loved. And tonight, I want you also to sense how much you are loved by God.

Friends, Jesus stoops to love you. As amazing as it sounds, Jesus loves you as much as he loved any of the first disciples, which means in the midst of his impending death, he would wash your feet. In the midst of the 21st century world careening into chaos, Jesus wants to comfort you. When the agony of hearing about war day after day has overwhelmed your compassion or when life feels so packed with worries or disappointments or demands on your time, Jesus wants to cradle you in his hands and wash away your stress. 

The important step is, you have to let him. You have to take time to sit on the lanai and watch the ibises, or even better, sit quietly with your eyes closed and open your inner-self to the presence of God. Be filled with the wonder of how much God cares for you. 

Fr. Henri Nouwen tells how one of the women in his community of people with mental and physical disabilities asked for a blessing at their evening prayer service. She came forward, put her arms around him, and buried her head in his chest. He covered her with his robed arm and said, “Janet…you are are God’s Beloved Daughter. You are precious in God’s eyes…[Y]our kindness to the people in your house…show us what a beautiful human being you are…[Y]ou are: a very special person, deeply loved by God and all the people who are here with you.” Of course, others in the service immediately wanted a blessing like that too. Even staff. (1) And perhaps tonight, you need a blessing. So take a breath, friends of Jesus Christ. Pause. Feel the arms of God around you, feel the hands of Jesus cleansing your weary feet, and hear the blessing: You are precious in God’s eyes. You are created on purpose, deeply loved by God. Blessed child of God, Jesus stoops to love you.

And then, he feeds you with his own presence. No matter what you have done, Jesus wants to break bread with you. Open your Bible again to hear the scene Luke reports on the final night. Read Luke 22:14-21. The Gospels report Judas was welcome at the final supper, even though Jesus knew he would betray him. Peter was welcome, even though Jesus knew he would deny him. And all the others were welcome, dipped their bread in the same bowl, drank from the same cup, even though they would all forsake him and flee as Jesus faced the worst horrors. So our Lord and Savior, who knows all about you, welcomes you to this table of grace. Not because you are holy, but because Jesus has cleansed you, blesses you, loves you more dearly than you can imagine, and he wants to share his presence with you at this table.

(1) Henri Nouwen, Life of the Beloved: Spiritual Living in a Secular World (Crossroad: 1992, 1993), 58.

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