Duccio's Jesus Washing the Feet of the Apostles

Here is another meditation or teaching using Duccio's painting of Jesus Washing the Feet of the Apostles. We might also want to look again at St. John's Gospel, Chapter 13. 

"What the Word does for our ears, the icon does for our eyes." 

Scala Santa

In Rome, there is a long staircase called the Scala Santa - the Holy Stairs. These are the twenty-eight marble steps that led to Pontius Pilate's Praetorium in Jerusalem. At some point the stairs were dismantled and brought to Rome, where pilgrims have climbed them on their knees for centuries as an act of repentance for the sins of the world.

It's an uncomfortable climb. Some people don't understand and mock the experience. To each his own. But while making the climb, I wrote short, one-line prayers along the way. I recently found the prayer again in the sabbatical journal I kept, and am pleased to share it with you now, at the start of Lent. I've added two subsequent prayers. 

Jesus - for the wars we create
Jesus - for our neglect and indifference towards you
Jesus - for the deals we make and the preparations for war
Jesus - for our sexual violence
Jesus - for our abandonment of children
Jesus - for our killing of children

Jesus - for the lies of church and government
Jesus - for the abuses of power
Jesus - for national greed
Jesus - for our veneration of guns
Jesus - for our selfish disregard of others
Jesus - for the hatred that results in murders


Jesus - for the destruction of the land, the water, the animals, the air
Jesus - for our racial and religious prejudice
Jesus - for the sins against justice that keeps people poor
Jesus - for the wasting of your gifts; our life-denying addictions
Jesus - for our refusal to share
Jesus - for our idolatry of possessions and power


Jesus - for our pretending not to see
Jesus - for squandering our riches on ourselves
Jesus - for our judgments of division and hatred
Jesus - for arrogant thinking - only we are right
Jesus - for our lack of joy in you
Jesus - for the torture and enslavement of people


Jesus - for our superficiality and obsession with fun, ease and comfort
Jesus - for our ignorance of your Gospel and the trivialization of your Word
Jesus - for our dishonesty, lust, entitlement, violence and lack of repentance
Jesus - for our inhospitality, our sending people away
Jesus - for the sins of the clergy

Intercessions ~ First Sunday in Lent

Lent,/ the Church's Springtime,/ has begun./ We pray to experience something personal that we might call warming,/ melting,/ greening/ or simply,/ change./ We pray to the Lord.

As March begins/ we pray for our families and friends,/ and for those who celebrate birthdays,/ anniversaries and other days of remembrance,/ asking good health, safety and peace./ We pray to the Lord.

As India and the United States sign a three billion dollar military equipment deal,/ we pray for Pope Francis, who has said, "Countries that sell arms have no right to talk about peace."/ We pray to the Lord.

We pray for the President of the United States,/ our Congress and candidates for public office./ We ask boldly for leaders who are of clean heart and mind,/ freed of corruption,/ lies and greed./ We pray to the Lord.

We pray for the sick,/ mindful of the countries where the coronavirus is spreading./ For the safety of the many people who help others to heal./ For those who are addicted,/soul-sick,/ or whose relationships are toxic./ We pray to the Lord.

Remembering the 1965 Voters Rights March from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama,/ we pray for our nation,/ whose original sin is racial prejudice./ We pray to be healed of hatred./ We pray to the Lord.