Poetry Reflections w/ Liturgy for Maundy Thursday
Poetry Reflections w/ Liturgy for Maundy Thursday
[This resource is one of many in our Holy Week Bundle]
DIGITAL DOWNLOAD ONLY
Written by: Sarah Are
This resource offers poetry reflections (to be offered as spoken word in lieu of a traditional sermon) on three elements present in the narrative of Jesus' final hours: water (foot washing), bread (the Last Supper), and silver (Judas' betrayal). Poetry reflections are integrated within a full Maundy Thursday order of worship.
It starts with water—just as creation started—rooting us in baptism and the knowledge that we are claimed and known by God. The service progresses to Communion, where we are eschatologically reminded that there is always room at the table for us, and that Jesus—fully human, fully God—indeed walked this earth with dusty feet and ate with his friends. Finally, in the turn to silver, we come face to face with our forgetful and flawed nature. We are reminded how easily we can turn from the promise of baptism and the beauty of Communion to betrayal.
[Click the photos on the left to preview excerpts of the poetry and liturgy].
Download includes:
- PDF print-ready files of all poetry reflections (for you to print and distribute to members, or copy/paste for worship liturgy) and order of service with worship notes.
Poetry Reflection: WATER (excerpt)
"So as water slowly filled the basin,
I wonder, did Jesus remember those spaces—
those spaces where water had breathed new life,
and the spaces where water took with might?
I wonder if he thought of my baptism day,
and of the water in Flint, and of hurricanes.
I wonder if he could see the joy of summer rains,
and how winter snow heals our busiest days.
I wonder if he thought of it in cosmic proportions—
water, this source of life and force;
water, the source that holds new birth;
water, the deep, the dark, the first. . ."
Poetry Reflection: BREAD (excerpt)
"I should have known there would be water,
but of course there would be bread.
From the start of creation, God has tried to keep us fed—
fed on bread and roses and love we don’t notice.
I should have known there would be water,
but of course there would be bread.
I should have known there would be space
at the table for grace—
space for nerves, and questions, and absent confessions;
space for me and Elijah and Judas, without question.
I should have known there would be space,
but of course there would be bread—
for it started with manna, and all must be fed. . ."
Poetry Reflection: SILVER (excerpt)
"Thirty pieces of silver—that’s all it took.
Blood money paid to say Jesus was a crook.
Blood money to say, “He doesn’t matter to me.”
Blood money for the man who’d just washed them clean.
It’s hard to believe that in just one night
Judas could go from washed and cleaned,
forgiven and known, loved and seen,
to then turn around so easily
for a small cash payment ending in brutality. . ."
