The Hands and the Feet of Christ - A Maundy Thursday Practice from Rev. VeAnn Clark

“You are Christ’s Hands”  

By: St. Teresa of Avila

Christ has no body now on earth but yours,     no hands but yours,     no feet but yours,Yours are the eyes through which to look out     Christ’s compassion to the world;Yours are the feet with which he is to go about     doing good;Yours are the hands with which he is to bless us now.

For many years, I served teens as a camp counselor during both summer and winter camps. One of the activities that campers enjoyed was “Spa Time with Jesus” – an activity I came up with for teens to reflect on scripture stories while giving or receiving a manicure and/or pedicure. The campers loved it! I provided all the wonderful, soothing mani/pedi products that would delight the senses while the youth engaged in self-care or chose partners with which they’d exchange care. Either way, all the youth were listening and sharing stories that came to mind when they thought of the hands and feet of Christ. The youth would always come up with several illustrations like breaking bread and holding the cup of wine during the last supper; nail-pierced hands and feet on the cross; turning over the tables of the money changers in the temple; washing the Disciples’ feet; the list goes on.  

For our Maundy Thursday spiritual practice, I invite you care for your hands.* Begin by preparing your space – maybe you would like to light a candle or diffuse some essential oil. Place a Bible and lotion in your space. Then wash your hands. Return to your space and settle in by taking some time to quiet your busy mind by taking three slow, deep breaths. Next, read John 13:1-17. 

After reading the scripture, close your eyes and imagine Jesus’ hands. Imagine the palms, the knuckles, the fingertips, the fingernails. What color are they? Are they rough? Smooth? Sun-baked? Well-groomed? Dirty? Inspect every detail of Jesus’ hands.

Now, take Jesus’ hands in yours. What do they feel like? Are they warm? Cold? Soft? Tough? How do your hands feel in Jesus? Uncomfortable? Relaxed? Peaceful? Imagine Jesus holding your hand like a good friend or a close loved one would. How does it feel to touch God through your hands?

What is it like to engage Jesus in such an intimate way? What feelings does it give rise to in you? As Jesus holds your hands, your eyes meet his. What color are they? Can you see your reflection there? Do you feel their intensity? Perhaps it is like love flowing out from this window into God’s soul.

Imagine Jesus continuing to hold your hands and whispering to you. He quietly says, “I love you. This is where you belong. I love you. All of you.”

He repeats this over and over and over. How does it make you feel? Perhaps it is a message you are intimately familiar with. Perhaps you haven’t heard it in a while. Perhaps you have never heard it in your life. What feelings does it stir up? Gratitude? Peace? Communion? Maybe discomfort? Or even doubt? Is there a physical response you are having to this encounter? Warmth? Healing? What message do you think Jesus is trying to give to you? 

As you continue to imaginatively hold the hands of Jesus, open your eyes and look at your own hands. Take some time to examine your hands. How are your hands similar to Jesus? How are they different?

Then, put some lotion on your hands and begin slowly massaging your hands. Consider how you may have figuratively held someone else in your hands recently, someone you supported in a time of need. It could have been a loved one, someone you barely know, or even a whole group of people. How did it feel to hold that person in your hands? What emotions did you feel? Is there any way that the experience may have led you closer to God? How do you see God’s hands as your own hands?

Now consider the future.How do you hope for your hands to act as God’s hands?How can you better serve and hold others with your hands?How can you use your hands to fight for justice in your community and in our world?How can you help others to experience God’s radically unconditional love?How might your hands help others to peer into the eyes of God?

Imagine telling Jesus, who is still sitting right beside you, about these things. What does he say? What does he think? How can he help? Take time to really unpack your thoughts and explore your dreams and struggles with Jesus. As you finish your conversation, you squeeze Jesus’ hand for one last time. 

Now, take some time to reflect on what happened during the meditation. What were some of the feelings that came up? What part(s) stuck out to you? How might God be trying to communicate with you through your emotions, thoughts, and affective movements?

Alternate Spiritual Practice for Maundy Thursday – Host your own “Spa Time with Jesus” by inviting family and/or friends over to share in giving and receiving manicures and pedicures. During the spa time, you can adapt the practice above and/or share stories that come to mind about Jesus’ hands and feet. Deepen the conversation by reflecting on why those stories stand out and what God may be inviting you to explore in your own life right now. You may also want to share in communion with those gathered either before or after the spa time. 

*This meditation is adapted from “Hands: An Imaginative Meditation” by GodInAllThings.com

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Rev. VeAnn Clark is a DSF/CST graduate (M.Div./2019). She is a full-time hospital chaplain and the Associate Minister at Beloved Way, a contemplative Christian community within the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).