Maundy Thursday

So, last night was Maundy Thursday, which for our church is the one time a year we wash feet. This of course is coupled with the command of Jesus to love as he has loved. Once again I was struck by how odd it is to wash someone elses feet. The imagery of this event is enough to make it worth while, but to also connect this act of service with the rest of Holy Week is quite powerful. This is our King Jesus (Palm Sunday) serving his followers by giving them bread and wine, and washing their feet (Maundy Thursday) before he agonizes in prayer for them, and ulitmately gives his life for them (Good Friday). Also, our service closes witht the chanting of Psalm 22, the Psalm Jesus will quote from the cross (My God, my God why have you forsaken me), and the stripping of the sanctuary. It is so ominous and looming, it is the perfect way to prepare us for Good Friday. This is really the week where liturgical churches shine, mostly because they practice for this stuff all year long. I have a buddy who often says, "Catholics always seem to do the big services well, weddings, funerals, Easter..." Its no accident, it like making clutch free throws at the end of a game, you make them by being good at making a lot of (seemingly) meaningless free throws along the way. That's my pitch for High Church, follow liturgy, make more free throws.