Maundy Thursday: Greatness Redefined

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/

Maundy Thursday: As Christ Has Washed Us

Here’s a responsive prayer for a service of footwashing on Maundy Thursday.  It was written by Karen Turner and posted on the Lifeway website.

Prayer for Maundy Thursday

(inspired by John 13:1-17)

Merciful Savior,

We have traveled this long, dusty Lenten journey.

Our feet are tired, dirty, aching, and calloused.

You have shown us Your love

by becoming a humble servant.

Humble us when we try to travel without You.

As Christ has washed us,

so let us wash one another.

Humble us when we believe some work is below us.

As Christ has washed us,

so let us wash one another.

Humble us when we are too proud

to accept help, or care, or love.

As Christ has washed us,

so let us wash one another.

Humble us when we do not fully receive

the gift of Your amazing and bountiful grace.

As Christ has washed us,

so let us wash one another. Amen.

~ written by Karen Turner, and posted on the Lifeway website.  http://www.lifeway.com/lwc/files/lwcF_PDF_LW_MaundyThursday.pdf

Benediction for Maundy Thursday

Here’s a benediction for Maundy Thursday from the Starters for Sunday website.  It was written by Rev. Dr. Clare McBeath and Rev. Tim Presswood.

Maundy Thursday Benediction

So may the blessing of the God who calls the people out of Egypt

call us out from our comfort and our safety

to embrace a journey of challenge and risk

May the blessing of the Son who kneels and washes our feet

call us out from our comfort and our safety

to embrace and serve those we meet on the journey

May the blessing of the Spirit who weaves dreams of a new community

call us out from our comfort and our safety

to provide welcome and hospitality to strangers as well as friends.

~ written by Rev. Dr. Clare McBeath and Rev. Tim Presswood.  Posted on the Church of Scotland’s Starters for Sunday website http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk

Footwashing Prayer

Here’s a prayer for a service of foot washing service from Ann Siddall.  It was posted on the website of the Stillpoint Spirituality Centre.

Prayer for a Service of Foot Washing

(inspired by John 13:1-17)

“Unless I wash you

you have no share with me.”

If only it were otherwise.

If only I could present my credentials,

show my record of service,

get some kind of unlimited pass.

In every area of my life

I am more used

to proving how adequate I am,

presenting a polished image,

gaining certain privileges.

But you, Lord,

you bring me down

to where you are kneeling,

and take hold

of the feet I prefer to hide.

We are here together,

near the ground,

and in this humble position

I am touched by you

and made clean.

We are here together,

near the ground,

and in this humble position

I am touched by you

and made clean.

~ written by Ann Siddall, and posted on the website of the Stillpoint Spirituality Centre.  http://www.stillpointsa.org.au/

Pastoral Prayer for Maundy Thursday

Here’s a pastoral prayer for Maundy Thursday from the United Church of Christ website.  (See below for link.)

Maundy Thursday Prayer

Gracious God,
As those who strive to follow Jesus in our living
and to trust your power in our dying,
we gather to reflect upon the life that ended on a cross.

We recognize in ourselves

the strengths and weaknesses of Jesus’ disciples:
although they loved him,

they disappointed and failed him.

And yet, gathering with these imperfect friends at this last meal
Jesus washed their feet in service, and then
extended the bread and cup to each.
Jesus called them to love one another,

and invited them to share in his very life
and in his acceptance of the road ahead.

We are humbled, honored and inspired
by the deep love Christ extended to the world,
and we take seriously the calling

to be the body of Christ today.

Forgive us when we disappoint and fail you,
and guide us back to a place of trust and faithful living.
Grant us the vision to see the world as you see it,
with love and compassion for each creature and all of your creation.
We ask this in the name of Jesus,

who taught us to pray to you. . .  [Lord’s Prayer]

~ from “Come and Remember: Prayers for Maundy Thursday,” written by the Rev. Kelly Burd.  Posted on the United Church of Christ website. http://www.ucc.org/

Foot washing Prayer

Here is a prayer of petition to follow a service of foot washing.  It was written by Joanna Harader.

Prayer following the Washing of Feet

Lord Jesus,
We have washed each other’s feet, but we are not clean.
We struggle to follow you, but it is hard.
Send your Holy Spirit to walk with us
as we walk with you down the dark road that leads to the cross.  Amen.

~ posted on Joanna Harader on her Spacious Faith blog.  http://spaciousfaith.com/

Footwashing Invitation

Here’s an invitation to a footwashing service (traditionally done on Maundy Thursday).  It was written by Ann Siddall.

Invitation – foot washing

“Unless I wash you

you have no share with me.”

If only it were otherwise.

If only I could present my credentials,

show my record of service,

get some kind of unlimited pass.

In every area of my life

I am more used

to proving how adequate I am,

presenting a polished image,

gaining certain privileges.

But you, Lord,

you bring me down

to where you are kneeling,

and take hold

of the feet I prefer to hide.

We are here together,

near the ground,

and in this humble position

I am touched by you

and made clean.

~ written by Ann Siddall, in Lent to Easter liturgies: Year C.  Posted on the website of the Stillpoint Spirituality Centre.  http://stillpoint.unitingchurchsa.org.au/

Footwashing Prayer: Origen

Here is a footwashing prayer from Origen, a church leader from the third century.

Footwashing Prayer

O Jesus, my feet are dirty.

Come even as a slave to me,

pour water into your bowl,

come and wash my feet.

In asking such a thing I know I am overbold

but I dread what was threatened when you said to me,

“If I do not wash your feet I have no fellowship with you.”

Wash my feet then, because I long for your companionship.

And yet, what am I asking?

It was well for Peter to ask you to wash his feet,

for him that was all that was needed for him to be clean in every part.

With me it is different:

though you wash me now I shall still stand in need of that other washing,

the cleansing you promised when you said,

“there is a baptism I must needs be baptized with.”

~ Origen c. 185-c. 254

Footwashing Litany

Here is a litany for a service of footwashing (on Maundy Thursday or another occasion).  It was written by Reggie M. Kidd, and included in A Footwashing Liturgy. To see the entire liturgy, click on the link below.

Footwashing Litany

(inspired by John 13: 1-20)

O Prince of Peace, O Friend of Sinners,

we praise you and give you thanks,

because you laid aside your power as a garment

and took upon yourself the form of a slave.

You became obedient unto death, even death on a cross.

You allowed yourself to be born to die in our place,

You allowed your own feet to be anointed for death.

You allowed a sinner to wash your feet with her tears.

For God chose what is low and despised in the world

to bring to nothing things that are.

Therefore, with the woman who gave you birth,

with the woman who anointed you for death,

with the woman who worshiped you with her tears,

and with all our fellow sinners

who have loved and served you from that time till now,

we praise you, Lord Jesus.

O Eternal Father, blessed is our brother Jesus,

who on that night before Passover,

rose from the Supper, laid aside his garments

took a towel and poured water,

and washed his disciples’ feet, saying to them:

“If I, your Lord and Teacher,

have washed your feet,

you also ought to wash one another’s feet.

If you know these things,

blessed are you if you do them.”

Come now, mighty Spirit of God,

wash us and make us one body in Christ,

that, as we are bound together

in this act of love,

we may no longer be in bondage

to the principalities and powers that enslave creation,

but may know your liberating peace

such as the world cannot give. Amen.

— from A Footwashing Liturgy by Reggie M. Kidd.  

For more worship resources for Maundy Thursday, click on Maundy Thursday in the list of “Labels” at the lower right side of the page.

Closing Prayer: Footwashing

Here is a closing prayer for Maundy Thursday worship, or any other service where footwashing is included.  It comes from a larger liturgy written by Reggie M. Kidd. (See below for the link.)

Unison Closing Prayer

(inspired by John 13: 1-20)

Blessed are you, Lord God.

The basin and the towel are signs to us of your Son’s servanthood.

You have made us partakers of Christ and of one another.

As we go forth, give us grace

to count others more important than ourselves,

to love our enemies,

to make peace.

Send the Spirit of truth to keep alive in us

what Jesus taught and did,

that our words may carry his good news, and

that our lives may bear the shape of the cross

of the One who lives and reigns with You

and with the Holy Spirit,

One God, forever and ever. Amen.

— from A Footwashing Liturgy by Reggie M. Kidd.  

For more worship resources for Maundy Thursday, click on Maundy Thursday in the list of “Labels” at the lower right side of the page.

A Closing Prayer: Footwashing

Here’s a closing prayer for an intergenerational service of footwashing.  It was written by Lutie O. Lee.

Closing Prayer

(John 13: 1-20)

O Jesus, in this Holy Week you prayed
that we would love one another
as you have loved us.
Tonight we have tried to practice what you have taught us!
Let the love, joy and humility
we have known here with our families
continue to bless us,
and let us share that blessing with world
you love and gave your life for.
May the peace we feel together in this place
Point us toward the hope of Easter.

Amen.

— from With Humility and Joy: Footwashing Service for Families, written by Lutie O. Lee, Minister for Children and Families, Worship and Education Ministry Team, Local Church Ministries. Posted on the United Church of Christ’s Worship Ways website. 

For more worship resources for Maundy Thursday, click on Maundy Thursday in the list of “Labels” at the lower right side of the page.