Then He poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. So He came to Simon Peter. He said to Him, "Lord, do You wash my feet?" Jesus answered and said to him, "What I do you do not realize now, but you will understand hereafter." John 13:5-10
'But the man who is unclean and does not purify himself from uncleanness, that person shall be cut off from the midst of the assembly, because he has defiled the sanctuary of the LORD; the water for impurity has not been sprinkled on him, he is unclean. Numbers 19:20
O God who made us in your image, we thank you for giving us sweat glands, intestines, body hair, and buttocks. You send us the waters from on high and your Spirit moves over the waters of the deep that we might purify ourselves by the cleansing of water and present ourselves to you and to one another as clean. We thank you that we make ourselves more human by making ourselves clean. We praise you that by your Son we are made truly clean, and we acknowledge his teaching that our hearts must be cleaned before our bodies.
In this room where our loved ones will come to clean their bodies, may their hearts be gladdened and cleaned as well. Strengthen my knees as they bend and my elbows as they press to purify this room of cleansing. Check my spirit when I grumble that I am too important or educated for the scrubbing of toilets and teach me the example of your son, who emptied himself and became a servant. Bless all those who scour shit for their daily bread. Bless all those who don't remember their last washing or don't know when the next one will come. Bless all those for whom clean water is a precious luxury, and help us to remember that we mustn't waste it.
In purifying this room may we make a holy space for your holy people, O cleansing God. We ask this in the name of your son Jesus, who reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen.
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