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| Image by Jay Huang |
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A GREETING
Save me, my God!
(Psalm 3:7)
A READING
During supper, Jesus—knowing that God had put all things into his own hands, and that he had come from God and was returning to God, rose from the table, took off his clothes and wrapped a towel around his waist. He then poured water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and dry them with the towel that was around his waist.
When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter said, “Rabbi, you’re not going to wash my feet, are you?”
Jesus answered, “You don’t realize what I am doing right now, but later you’ll understand.”
Peter replied, “You’ll never wash my feet!”
Jesus answered, “If I don’t wash you, you have no part with me.”
Simon Peter said to Jesus, “Then, Rabbi, not only my feet, but my hands and my head as well!”
Jesus said, “Any who have taken a bath are clean all over and only need to wash their feet."
(John 13:2b - 10a)
MUSIC
A MEDITATIVE VERSE
“The truth of the matter is,
no subordinate is greater than the superior;
no messenger outranks the sender.
(John 13:16)
A POETIC REFLECTION
Quiet friend who has come so far,
feel how your breathing makes more space around you.
Let this darkness be a bell tower
and you the bell. As you ring,
what batters you becomes your strength.
Move back and forth into the change.
What is it like, such intensity of pain?
If the drink is bitter, turn yourself to wine.
In this uncontainable night,
be the mystery at the crossroads of your senses,
the meaning discovered there.
And if the world has ceased to hear you,
say to the silent earth: I flow.
To the rushing water, speak: I am.
- “Let This Darkness Be a Bell Tower” by Rainer Maria Rilke
Translation by Joanna Macy and Anita Barrows
found on the website for On Being
VERSE OF THE DAY
Once you know all these things,
you’ll be blessed if you put them into practice.
(John 13:17)
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| "The Last Supper," by Stanley Spencer (1920). We return to artist Stanley Spencer whose work was included in the first four days of this devotional. Here, the over-articulated bodies of the disciples are framed in the moment of hearing that someone will betray Jesus. The setting is a malt house in Spencer's native Cookham, England. The crossed feet of the disciples form a kind of ladder leading up to Jesus. The positioning of the feet also prefigures the moment after the meal when Jesus will wash their feet. |
The Gospel accounts of the final days of Jesus with the disciples and others are filled with moments when the disciples cannot accept what Jesus is telling them. Jesus tries to warn his friends of what is coming and give them instruction on what it means. Among them they have different ways of hearing and not hearing him. In today's vulnerable exchange between Peter and Jesus, we hear Peter struggling to hold on to his own way of thinking.
Once again, it’s all about feet. It has been mere days since the dinner in Bethany with Mary’s gift of anointing and now Jesus' feet are once again a subject of discussion. This time it is Peter who is asking the questions. Peter can't bring himself to let Jesus wash his feet. Jesus replies that this is how it works in the kindom — all are equal. There is no more hierarchy, no more kings. Still not understanding, Peter suggests that if Jesus is going to bathe him then he will also wash his entire body. Since this would be absurd, he is hoping the absurdity will further prevent the foot washing. Jesus replies that the rest of Peter is already clean, returning Peter’s attention to the feet. Serving each other and making a commitment to community is how we deepen our faith.
When Jesus bathes the feet of the disciples, he is offering his own extravagant love. He is making each person significant through his attention and also making clear that no one is more important than the other. But Jesus perhaps also knows, as he looks at the gathered, that many of these will at some point also be killed for their faith. In this perspective, Jesus is anointing the feet of those who will experience hardship and also die because of their commitment to him.
How might you imagine in prayer today Jesus washing your feet? Would you stop him, not believing yourself to be worthy? Or would you allow yourself to feel the tender embrace of his hands?
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| Image by Jay Huang |
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Scripture passages are taken from The Inclusive Bible.
For those who may wish to pursue an imagined narrative of the events of Holy Week as told through the eyes of Mary Magdalene, this blog was created in 2009 by Deacon Sherry and then republished in 2020.
Palm Sunday.
Holy Monday.
Holy Tuesday.
Holy Wednesday.
Maundy Thursday.
(A new day will be made visible here each day.)
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LC† From Dust, Still Holy is a devotional series of Lutherans Connect, supported by the Eastern Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada and the Centre for Spirituality and Media at Martin Luther University College. To receive the devotions by email, write to lutheransconnect@gmail.com. The devotional pages are written and curated by Deacon Sherry Coman, with support and input from Pastor Steve Hoffard, Catherine Evenden and Henriette Thompson. Join us on Facebook. Lutherans Connect invites you to make a donation to the Ministry by going to this link on the website of the ELCIC Eastern Synod and selecting "Lutherans Connect Devotionals" under "Fund". Devotions are always freely offered, however your donations help support the ongoing work.
Thank you and peace be with you!