Basin and Towel

JESUS MAFA. Jesus washes his disciples' feet, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, Tenn.

Basin and Towel

Love stoops down

it humbly bends

draped in towel

hunching over basin

it pours out water

over dirty feet

and dirty souls

mingling over meat.

Love takes basin and towel

from the servant’s seat.

Love serves their enemy

and is honored to greet.

Love lingers long

at the lowly task

of hospitality and chivalry

with the loving words,

“If I do not wash you,

you have no share with me.”

Cleansed for eternity

I do for you what was done for me.

©️April 6, 2023, Robbie Pruitt

“If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.” (John 13:14-17, ESV).

A Collect for Maundy Thursday: “Almighty Father, whose most dear Son, on the night before he suffered, instituted the Sacrament of his Body and Blood: Mercifully grant that we may receive it in thankful remembrance of Jesus Christ our Savior, who in these holy mysteries gives us a pledge of eternal life; and who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.” (Book of Common Prayer, 2019).

JESUS MAFA. Jesus washes his disciples' feet, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, Tenn.