A Maundy Thursday Reflection: Presence in the Pain

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Apr 17, 2025

Tonight is Maundy Thursday—the night Jesus knelt to wash feet, shared a final meal, and prayed in trembling agony while His friends struggled to stay awake.

(James Tissot, “The Washing of the Feet”. Brooklyn Museum)

This is the beginning of the end.
Or maybe—the beginning of something eternal.

In that Upper Room, Jesus gave a new command:

“Love one another, as I have loved you.” —John 13:34

And then He showed them what love looks like:

It shares bread with betrayers.
It kneels to serve.
It weeps and bleeds and asks, “Will you stay with Me?”

And though most ran, John and Mary remained.
They followed the path of love all the way to the Cross—not because they had the strength, but because they had been formed by love. They stayed with Jesus through His fear, agony, and abandonment.

That is what Maundy Thursday invites us into:
A love that doesn't rush past pain, but chooses presence.
A God who doesn't remain distant from suffering, but enters into it fully.

If you are grieving, anxious, or alone tonight—remember:
God does not flinch from your pain.
He has walked this road. He knows it intimately. Emotionally. Physically. Spiritually.

And He stays.

Maundy Thursday Practices

Choose one or more of the following to mark this night with intention and presence.

1. Foot Washing (John 13:14–15)

“Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.”

At home: Gently wash the feet of a spouse, child, roommate, or friend. You might speak a short blessing over them like, “As I wash your feet, I ask God to bless your journey, and to make you a person who stays in love.”

Alone: Wash your own hands or feet prayerfully, slowly, remembering that Jesus washed His disciples' feet in love—even the one who would betray Him.

2. Light a Candle and Keep Watch (Matthew 26:38–40)

“Stay here and keep watch with me.”

Light a candle.
Sit in silence for 10–15 minutes.
Imagine being in the Garden of Gethsemane with Jesus.
Put yourself in the picture; as a disciple; as Jesus, experiencing tremendous agony; as a third party, watching. Feel what you feel, as if you are there.
If your mind wanders, gently return with the prayer:
“Jesus, You stayed. Teach me to stay.”

This is a sacred act of presence—not fixing, not striving, just being with Jesus in His suffering.

3. Breath Prayer: “Stay With Me”

Use a simple breath prayer to center your heart and embody Jesus’ own longing.

Inhale: “Jesus…”
Exhale: “…stay with me.”

Let this prayer guide you into deeper awareness of God’s presence with you—and your presence with Him.

4. Read John 13–17 Slowly

Jesus' final teachings to His disciples are tender, intimate, and full of longing. As you read, listen for:

What does Jesus most want the disciples to know before He dies?
How does He model “undefended love” in these chapters?
What might He be saying to you tonight?

5. Prayer of Presence

Pray this aloud or quietly in your heart:

Jesus, You stayed when others fled.
You didn’t rush past pain.
You didn’t numb it or explain it away.
You entered it—fully, honestly, faithfully.
Tonight, I choose to stay with You.
To let love hold me here.
To be present to sorrow, present to stillness,
And present to the deep, abiding love You offer.
I am here, Lord. With You.
And You are here with me.
Amen.

Click here for further reflection on Maundy Thursday.

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To view the other articles in this Holy Week series focusing on the paintings of Tissot, please click below:

Day 1: The Cup and the Crushing

https://debbieowen.substack.com/p/holy-week-day-1-the-cup-and-the-crushing?r=1m6dv

Day 2: The Disciples Who Fled—Running from the Pain

https://debbieowen.substack.com/p/holy-week-day-2-the-disciples-who?r=1m6dv

Day 3: Blind Guides and the Undefended Heart of Christ

https://debbieowen.substack.com/p/holy-week-day-3-blind-guides-and?r=1m6dv

Day 4: Love that Stays

https://debbieowen.substack.com/p/holy-week-day-4-love-that-stays?r=1m6dv

A Maundy Thursday Reflection: Presence in the Pain

https://debbieowen.substack.com/p/a-maundy-thursday-reflection-presence?r=1m6dv

Day 5: “Surely This Was…”