Maundy Thursday Meditation over John 13.1-17, 31-35

Be silent and still.

Listen to the water being poured into the bowl by the Lord.

Listen as the sound of the water gets louder and then finally trickles off with a few last drips.

Feel the anxiety and confusion come over your body as you see your Rabbi kneel before you with only a towel on to wash YOUR feet.

Listen as Peter tries to tell Jesus that Jesus will never wash his feet.

Take in every word that then comes out of the mouth of the Christ, "Unless I was you, you won't belong to me."

Feel the goosebumps come over your body when your feet enter into the cold water.

Find rest in the rhythm that is in the way Jesus dries your feet.

Embrace the love that you see in Jesus' eyes as he gets up to move to the next disciple.

Get lost in the moment of being with the 12 closest friends you have.

Often times we do not want to be washed by Christ. More often than not we either consider ourselves not deserving of this gift or that Jesus should not have to do it, kind of like what Peter thought. Yet the washing our the feet allowed Christ to demonstrate the kind of love we are to have for one another. Without making the moment less holy, imagine what it must have been like to wash 12 people's feet after walking for a great distance? Blisters, dust, smelly feet and toe jam. Yet I often times find myself again wondering about what happen when Jesus went to wash Judas' feet. At this time Jesus knew that Judas would betray him and yet he still washed his feet, showing that although he will wrong me, he is still my beloved and needing me to serve him.

Through the gift of the Holy Spirit Christ is still with us today. Take time now to allow Jesus to wash your feet. To clean you of the dust and filth that you have picked up or been reminded of during this Lenten journey. Then think about those whom you would find difficult to humble yourself and wash their feet and meditate on Jesus' new commandment, "Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other."

Jesus, come to us today as you draw nearer to your death. Dine with us and wash our feet so that we may belong to you. Teach us about love and may we live and breath this new commandment onto all those whom we encounter, whether they are our friends or our foes. May we bask in your love and live into your love and give it to the world. Amen.