God in an Apron

Try to imagine this scene.  You are  sitting at the table with Jesus and his friends on the night before he died.  A confusing sorrow overshadows you; yet, a mysterious hope has settled in your heart.  Suddenly, Jesus is standing in front of you.  He looks into your eyes and immediately you are filled with an awareness of your tremendous worth.

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Supper was special that night

There was both a heaviness and a holiness

hanging in the air

We couldn't explain the mood

It was sacred, yet sorrowful.

Gathered around that table

eating that solemn, holy meal

seemed to us the most important meal

we had ever sat down to eat.

We were dwelling in the heart of mystery

though dark the night

Hope felt right

as if something evil

was about to be conquered.

And then suddenly

the One we loved startled us all

He got up from the table

and put on an apron.

Can you imagine how we felt?

God in an apron!

Tenderness encircled us

as he bowed before us.

He knelt and said,

"I choose to wash your feet

because I love you."

God in an apron, kneeling

I couldn't believe my eyes.

I was embarrassed

until his eyes met mine

I sensed my value then.

He touched my feet

He held them in his strong brown hands

He washed them.

I can still feel the water

I can still feel the touch of his hands.

I can still see the look in his eyes.

Then he handed me the towel and said,

"As I have done so you must do."

Learn to bow ~~ Learn to kneel.

Let your tenderness encircle

everyone you meet

Wash their feet

not because you have  to,

because you want to.

It seems I've stood two thousand years

holding the towel in my hands,

"As I have done so you must do,"

keeps echoing in my heart.

"There are so many feet to wash,"

I keep saying

"No," I hear God's voice

resounding through the years

"There are only my feet

What you do for them

you do for me."

by Macrina Wiederkehr

taken from Seasons of Your Heart