One of the Stations of the Cross that is set up in our Sanctuary right now offers participants a kneeling bench to pray. As we reflect on Jesus’ falling as he carried his cross, it humbles us, and it can bring us to our knees in prayer.
I remember the first time I experienced prayer in a kneeling posture.
I sat in the Church of Reconciliation in Taize, France. A community of Jesus-followers, seekers, peace-keepers, and young people gathered for daily prayer. Probably over a thousand of us. Sitting on the floor, singing the familiar Taize songs, hearing the Scriptures read, and sitting in silence for what felt like forever—but eventually as the week progressed, the forever became not nearly long enough. It was in the silence that I learned to kneel. Knees to the ground, heart and head bowed low. In the silence, I found my kneeling posture that helped take the distractions of my thoughts and surroundings away. Then I could pray, and be with Jesus in the silence.
There are not a lot of actions that we, as Christians, DO in worship. But kneeling has been part of our tradition for a long time, whether we still practice it in our churches or not.
Kneeling offers us a physical way to express our desire to be humble before our God. Our God who became human because of his love for us. Our God who loved us so much that he chose the way of suffering for us—stumbling, falling, bleeding–for us.
Ultimately, this posture is a one of the heart. There are many ways to “kneel” before God. You do not need even a kneeling bench for this prayer posture. We can bring our knees to the earth anywhere. This Thursday and Friday of Holy Week, it seems that kneeling is an appropriate way to respond to the sacrifice that was made for us.