Here’s
a thoughtful meditation and prayer of response inspired by the events of Maundy
Thursday (see John 13:1-17). It was written by Nigel Varndell, and published on
the Sanctuary Centre website.
Meditation: Greatness Redefined
Why
did you wash their feet?
I
don’t understand, it makes no sense.
Why
did you do something so demeaning,
so
distasteful,
when
you did not have to?
Why
humble yourself and wash the feet of your own disciples?
You
are the Messiah,
it
makes no sense for you, of all people,
to
do something that should be done by the least of all people,
not
by the greatest.
It
is not what we want our Messiahs to do.
Unless…
unless
we have got it wrong and that,
somehow
this is a measure of what Messiah means?
Not
that it is defined in greatness
but
that somehow, in your world the first will be last,
and
the greatest, least and servant of all?
But
if we are to follow you,
does
it mean that we must follow your example too?
Are
you suggesting that we too should make ourselves humble?
That
we must wash the feet of the people whom we would rather ignore,
or
scapegoat,
or
deride?
Must
we too become the servants of the least among us?
the
refugee,
the
disabled,
the
homeless,
the
addicted,
the
anti-social,
the
child?
Was
that what all of this was about?
To
try and put us in our rightful place,
not
at the centre of our own world,
but
at the centre of yours,
where
we are no longer the most important person?
Is
that it?
Were
you trying to teach us this simple truth,
that
other people,
all
other people,
should
matter too?
Is
that why you washed their feet?
A prayer of response
Messiah
I come,
Brought
to my knees by astonishing grace.
In
the presence of such humility
From
one so great
What
can I do but kneel and praise?
Messiah
I come,
Challenged
to bow to the King who kneels.
I
want to pour out mercy and bring tender healing,
But
I am proud, judgmental, and self-absorbed
And
you are the only one
who
can lead me to first-becoming-last greatness.
I
would wash and serve, wash and love,
Like
you do.
But
first Lord Jesus,
Wash
my feet, cleanse my heart
Till
I am – like you –
Humble
and ready on my knees.
~
in “Daily Meditations and Response prayers for Holy Week” by Nigel Varndell.
Copyright © 2011 Nigel Varndell (Meditations) and 2012 www.thesanctuarycentre.org/whereworldandworshipmeet. Posted on the Sanctuary Centre website. http://www.thesanctuarycentre.org/
