Holy Thursday | Thursday 6 April 2023

Today is Holy Thursday, the 6th of April.

Madison Cunningham with the Porter’s Gate sings, ‘Little Things With Great Love’.


In the garden of our Savior, no flower grows unseen;
His kindness rains like water on every humble seed.
No simple act of mercy escapes His watchful eye —
for there is One who loves me: His hand is over mine.
In the kingdom of the heavens, no suff’ring is unknown;
each tear that falls is holy, each breaking heart a throne.
There is a song of beauty on ev’ry weeping eye —
for there is One who loves me: His heart, it breaks with mine.
Oh, the deeds forgotten; oh, the works unseen,
every drink of water flowing graciously,
every tender mercy, You’re making glorious.
This You have asked us: do little things with great love,
little things with great love.
At the table of our Savior, no mouth will go unfed;
His children in the shadows stream in and raise their heads.
Oh give us ears to hear them and give us eyes that see —
for there is One who loves them: I am His hands and feet.

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of John.


John 13:1-15


Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, ‘Lord, are you going to wash my feet?’ Jesus answered, ‘You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.’ Peter said to him, ‘You will never wash my feet.’ Jesus answered, ‘Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.’ Simon Peter said to him, ‘Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!’ Jesus said to him, ‘One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.’ For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, ‘Not all of you are clean.’

After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, ‘Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.

John’s Gospel makes a direct link between Jesus’s saving mission and this shocking gesture of washing his disciples’ feet. Among his Jewish contemporaries only a man’s slave or his wife washed his feet – no wonder Simon Peter is alarmed! How would you feel to have Jesus kneel and wash your feet?


In the Gospel accounts of the institution of the Eucharist, Jesus tells his disciples to ‘do this in memory of Me’. Christian communities have made these words sacred when referencing the bread and wine, but less so the washing of the feet and similar humble tasks. Why do you think that is, and what is your reaction to this?

As we repeat this very physical and emotional story, what stays with you particularly? How does it impact on the reality of your life and relationship with Jesus?


This reading links us with Peter’s denial of Jesus and his subsequent restoration to friendship. How does this speak to your relationship with Jesus? What might you want to share with him now about how you've experienced this story?

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you, because by your holy Cross you have redeemed the world.