Maundy Thursday
Tonight we stand at the beginning of the Paschal Triduum or the Great Three days that take us on a journey through Jesus’ passion to his resurrection. These three days are in many ways one service in three parts. Starting tonight and continuing through Good Friday, taking a long pause for Holy Saturday before concluding with the celebration of Easter Sunday. You will notice that we don’t really conclude the service tonight after the stripping of the altar, you are simply invited to leave in silence. Tomorrow as we return, we will linger at the cross. There will be time to lament, to sit in silence and feel the discomfort the day demands.
The temptation to rush through the trials and challenges of tonight, tomorrow and Saturday is very real. Leaping forward to the end of the story and the Good News we all know is coming. However, I invite you to linger, to lean into the readings, the liturgy and the actions over these days. The world rushes on around us but this space is set aside to reflect and remember. Our understanding of the meaning of these days comes as we participate and journey through the time together.
God knew that, as people, we tend towards forgetfulness. We see in the Exodus reading that God rescued the Israelites out of Egypt from their hard labour and slavery. God did not simply rescue them; he gave them a practice to be continued throughout the generations to remind them of God’s saving power on their behalf. Because of the blood of the lamb on their doorposts, God passed them over and did not destroy their firstborn sons. They did not save themselves. God intervened to save them from their oppressors. They were called to remember this year by year, recalling God’s mercy.
Saint Paul gives a brief overview of the institution of the Lord’s supper and the place it takes as an act of remembrance in our lives. We are invited week by week, but particularly tonight, to remember. Christ’s body will be broken. His blood will be shed. These actions institute a new covenant, a divine and eternal vow that can never be broken. God promises to set us free from sin and death, to pour out his mercy upon us. Week by week, we come and receive the mercy and grace we need from God in this very tangible act of taking bread and wine.
As we come to the Gospel reading, we hear that the meal that Jesus ate with his disciples took place just before the festival of the Passover took place. The disciples are gathered with Jesus, eating supper. I wonder if this was one of those complicated meals. You know like the Christmas dinner with the weird family member who no one really likes, or the sister who never brings what she said she would bring, or the uncle who always insists on talking about politics!
At this table, Jesus has his twelve disciples, amongst them are James and John who have been arguing about who is the greatest; Judas who has been stealing from the common purse and is about to betray him; and Simon Peter, who will shortly deny Jesus. It was a complex table with a complex group of people.
It seems that in the middle of the evening, Jesus stood up and began to wash his disciples’ feet. It would be normal for a slave to wash his master’s feet after coming in from the dirty and dusty streets. Had no one else offered to do it? Where the disciples still arguing about who was the greatest?
This foot washing is a great act of humility from Jesus who is about to lay down his life for the disciples and us all. He washes the feet of Judas, who will betray him, and Simon Peter, who will deny him, and the others who will fall asleep when he needs them. In contrast to the rulers of his day and the powerful of our time, Jesus’ love is expressed in service. Jesus called his disciples to follow his example by loving one another. His call for them to love another has a very practical edge. It is a love that is seen in action. It is love for those who will let him down. It is love for those who will betray him. Jesus does not ration his love. He loved them to the end.
As we journey through these Great Three Days, which we have done many times before, may you encounter afresh God who loves you to the end.
Sarah Murphy