A Time of Reflection for Maundy Thursday

 

 

Maundy Thursday begins the Three Days (or Triduum), remembering the new commandment that Christ gave us in word and deed as he taught us how to love one another, washing our feet as a servant. We also celebrate the Lord’s Supper, remembering the meal Christ shared with his disciples before his death.

 

The name is taken from the first words sung at the ceremony of the washing of the feet, “I give you a new commandment” (John 13:34); also from the commandment of Christ that we should imitate his loving humility in the washing of the feet (John 13:14-17). The term mandatum (maundy), therefore, was applied to the rite of the footwashing on this day.

 

The opening service of the Triduum is not inherently mournful. The penitential acts of Maundy Thursday have celebratory aspects as well: restoration through the bold declaration of pardon; the act of footwashing connoting humility and intimacy; the celebration of the Lord’s Supper embodying the mystery of Christ’s enduring redemptive presence. Maundy Thursday’s acts provide the paradox of a celebratively somber and solemnly celebrative service.

 

 

O God, to you our creator,

Our rock and our redeemer,

To you our ever present help in all things,

To you we pray.

In your truth and wisdom,

Please add a blessing to this worship time,

And to our understanding of a week long ago

in the life of Jesus, your Son.

Amen.

 

John 13:1-17; 31-35

 

“Now, before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus answered. “You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.” Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” Jesus said to him, “One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.” For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

 

After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you?” You call me Teacher and Lord – and you are right, for that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your eet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.

 

When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’ I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

 

 

 

At a last meal

Gathered in faith,

He washed their feet,

Shared bread and wine,

Tried to explain what was ahead.

 

Betrayal and leaving are hard to tell,

Loss and despair are hard to hear.

 

Little children, I am soon leaving.

This time you cannot come.

I love you, my students, my friends,

I will love each of you through these next days.

 

Here I command you to do the same,

Each one to another through all of time.

 

Then by you my story will be retold,

Then by you my love will never die.

 

 

Think of an example of loving one another in these times. Hold it in mind as you breathe deeply in and out. Notice your emotions and feel these in this silence. Breathe deeply in and out and release all things to God.

 

 

Dearest God,

We hold so many in our hearts.

We hold all who are sick,

and those who heal,

 

We hold all who need help,

and those who give it.

 

We hold all who practice social distancing

in these challenging times,

and those who are lonely, afraid and overwhelmed as they do.

 

We hold family and friends and neighbors and strangers

and all whose names we speak now.

 

(Say out loud the names of those you are holding in your heart.)

 

All our prayers are lifted to you, God,

Amen.

 

 

May we believe in the love that Jesus commanded and share this love each day. Amen.