Maundy Thursday: Wash, Pray, Love

Lent

Out of ashes 

- an invitation to a holy season -

From which we have journeyed 

over  rough and rugged terrain.

It always is. 

rough. 

rugged. rocky. 

Because life is.

At least life can be. And yet, through the rocky places

Jesus walks with us, God is present, love come down, 

and we journey through.

So here we are. The Holiest of Weeks

and now, an invitation to sit.

To wash feet and be washed

to remember that Jesus did too.

But first, before Jesus washed feet

Mary of Bethany washed Jesus' feet.

She burst into a room full of men eating dinner

and plunged herself to the floor, embracing Jesus' foot

in her hands. She anointed the gnarled toes. 

She gently smoothed the  calloused heels 

and massaged the aching arches.

She held his feet in her hands, 

and rubbed them with an ointment

so fragrant that the residue must have lingered for days.

On his feet. On her hands. 

And so, when he washed the feet of his disciples,

wafts of Mary's fragrant ointment, her symbol of love

would waft through the water, the movement

of hands and towels

and remind them all that Mary

understood then

what they all were just beginning to grasp.

The love of God in Jesus is deep. It is a love

that heals all wounds, a love that does not require suffering 

of anyone. No, this love reaches into the suffering places

and seeks to anoint the wounded with a balm of heavenly grace.

There is tragedy ahead. Jesus knows it. Mary knew it. 

The disciples will see it and run away.

Jesus will face into the violence and the women

will walk with him, all the way. 

They hold his eyes in theirs and love him through his pain.

But that comes later.

Now, for now, Jesus is washing feet

and then sharing a meal,

and talking about 

re-membering

love.

I think I am going to reflect on Mary of Bethany tonight and how her fragrant love permeates the love that Jesus shows to his disciples when he washes their feet. How the fragrance must have lingered for days, the essence of which reminding Jesus of the tenderness of love, the bravery of love, the strength of love, the power of love. 

No doubt that love gave him strength. No doubt God's love in Jesus gives us strength too. 

What are your thoughts for this Holy Week? For this Maundy Thursday? Are you going to have supper? Are you going to wash and be washed? Are you going to sit and pray at an all night vigil?

 Not exactly a preacher party, but a time for us to share ideas, pray, and be present through this day.