7.30pm Maundy Thursday Eucharist and footwashing. All Saints Oakham
John 13.1-20
This is an Ignatian style meditation based on the story in John 13, our gospel reading, where Jesus washes his disciples’ feet. Ignatian meditation encourages people to use their imagination and put themselves into the bible story, thus experiencing the story personally.
Prepare
Make yourself comfortable. It helps if you sit with your back straight and your feet placed on the ground. You might like to sit with your hands open in front of you as a way of expressing your desire to receive from God. Relax your neck and shoulders.
Take a few moments to focus on your breathing.
Close your eyes.
Breathe in.
Hold.
Breathe out.
Breathe in.
Hold.
Breathe out.
Be still.
Let go of all your distractions.
Let your worries fly away.
Breathe in.
Hold.
Breathe out.
Breathe in.
Hold.
Breathe out…
Centre yourself ready to listen to what God may be saying to you and to listen to what rises up in your heart.
As you sit with your eyes closed you might like to repeat these or similar words; “Speak Lord, your servant is listening” or “here I am Lord, here I am”.
Imagine …
You are in a simple room. Look around in your mind’s eye, it is sparsely furnished with table and reclining couches.
There are smells coming from the cooking area, lamb, spices, freshly baked bread…
there are noises from the street outside,
the food on the table in front of you tastes good,
the light is gently fading as evening falls.
Look around the room. Who is with you..?
What are you feeling as you celebrate this meal together?
As you look at those around you, think about some of what has happened during the day,
some of the conversations you have had,
some of the dusty roads you have walked along,
some of the buildings you have passed.
Think about the smells of the city, the crowds from around the world here in Jerusalem for the Passover.
Look down at your feet in your sandals. What do they look like? What do they feel like?
You become aware of Jesus standing up. He takes off his outer garment. He wraps a towel around his waist. What do you think he is doing?
He goes to the water jar and gently pours some water into a bowl.
He bends to wash one of the disciples’ feet. Watch closely what Jesus is doing.
What thoughts are going around your mind? What emotions are you feeling?
Next Jesus comes to Peter. What does Peter’s face look like? What emotions do you imagine he is feeling?
Peter asks Jesus what he is going to do.
How does Jesus respond?
Peter refuses to let Jesus wash his feet. How does this make you feel?
Jesus replies, “Unless I wash you, you have no part of me”
Peter’s response was dramatic and enthusiastic – as he invites Jesus to wash all of him. How does this make you react?
Jesus moves on to the next disciple. As you watch and listen how do you feel about what is happening?
You look up and Jesus is approaching you. You realise that he is going to wash your feet. How do you feel about that?
He looks up at your face. He asks you a question. What does he ask you? How do you respond?
As Jesus gently cups your foot in his hand, what does his touch feel like?
He looks into your eyes. His eyes seem to see deep into your soul.
He looks at you and smiles. It feels as if there are only the two of you in the room.
Jesus speaks to you. What does he say? How do you respond?
Stay with this image for a bit…
Then Jesus washes your feet, as he pours the water over your feet, feel the coolness of it running over your toes,
Jesus dries your feet, feel the softness of the towel gentle on your feet.
He stands and meets your eye as he moves on to the person on your right.
As Jesus continues around the room washing the feet of your friends, what thoughts are going around your mind? How are you feeling?
Jesus finishes the last person at the table. He stands. He throws out the water. He removes the towel from around his waist. He reaches for his outer garment and puts it back on.
He looks around the room and asks:
“Do you understand what I have done for you?”
What is your response to this question?
“You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord’, and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. No servant is greater than his master.” … Take time to think about what these words mean to you.
It is time to leave the upper room, to come back into your space.
Continue to sit quietly.
When you are ready open your eyes.
Stretch.
Slowly become aware of your present surroundings.
Ubi caritas…