Maundy Thursday, 2026
Jesus said,
“Do you know what I have done to you?”
(pause)
I don’t know about you…
but I have a habit of missing important lessons in life.
Maybe they weren’t explained clearly.
Maybe I was distracted.
(slight pause)
Maybe… I just didn’t want to hear it.
And instead of asking,
“What did I miss?”
I start thinking…
“They should have explained it better.”
(light pause)
I tell myself,
“I’ll get it next time.”
But here’s what I’ve learned—
(slower)
we don’t always get a next time.
(pause)
We may not get another chance to say,
“Thank you.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I love you.”
(pause)
I wonder if the disciples felt something like that…
on that night.
Jesus knew his time had come.
And instead of giving them a long speech—
he knelt down…
and washed their feet.
(pause)
And Peter—good old Peter—says,
“No.”
(slight emphasis)
“You will never wash my feet.”
(pause)
And Jesus says,
“You don’t understand now…
but you will.
Unless I wash you…
you have no share with me.”
(longer pause)
That’s strong.
(softly)
Really strong.
(pause)
And eventually…
Peter gives in.
(pause)
I get Peter.
He wants to be a good disciple.
He wants to get it right.
He wants to show up first.
(slight pause)
But Jesus is not asking him to perform.
Jesus is asking him…
to receive.
(pause)
To be vulnerable enough…
to be loved.
(pause)
We talk a lot about loving others.
But let’s be honest—
(slight emphasis)
it is often harder…
to let ourselves be loved.
(pause)
And before Jesus says,
“Love one another”—
he first teaches them…
how to be loved.
(slow, reflective)
It’s humbling.
It’s uncomfortable.
It makes us vulnerable.
(pause)
But this…
is where love begins.
(final pause)
So tonight…
don’t miss it.
(gentle emphasis)
Not just what you are called to do—
but what you are invited to receive.
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