A Poem for Maundy Thurday

Today we remember Christ washing the disciples’ feet. But we also remember that Christ gave us a new commandment, to love one another. In the poem below, from my book Liturgical Entanglements, I try to look at both the theme of humility that is presented to us on Maundy Thursday as well as the command to love one another.

I pray this poem helps you move slowly into Easter. Tomorrow and Saturday, I will post poems for Good Friday and for Holy Saturday.

“Maundy Thursday”

He came to give us a different kind of life,
But first he had to give us a new commandment.
He showed us power doesn’t lay in might,
But in one who’s dressed in humble habiliment.
His mother said that God will exalt the lowly,
And so he knelt to wash our sin-stained feet.
He lifted up the bread and wine made holy
Before he turned our death into something sweet.
“A new command I give to you,” he said,
“That you, my little children, will love each other.”
He gave us the simple gifts of wine and bread
So we might be joined to him as sisters and brothers.

He humbled himself to overcome our loss,
And he was raised up on the bloody cross.