Meditations: Maundy Thursday

Apr 13, 2017 by Jill

MAUNDY THURSDAY

LITURGICAL THEME FOR THE DAY:  On Holy Thursday, we reenact the Lord’s Last Supper, which He shared with His apostles on the night He was betrayed and arrested. This is one of the most beautiful liturgies of the entire liturgical year. At the Mass, the priest will wash the feet of twelve men, just as Jesus did. Also on this night, priests all over the world will renew their sacred vows. This is because, at the Last Supper, Jesus not only instituted the Mass (Eucharist) but also the ministerial priesthood. The word maundy comes from the Latin word mandatum (commandment) which is the first word of the Gospel acclamation”I give you a new commandment: Love one another as I have loved you.” (John 13:34) and so these are the words spoken by our Lord to His apostles at the Last Supper, after he completed the washing of the feet.

We should imitate Christ’s humility in the washing of the feet. This ritual carried out in churches throughout Christendom and speaks volumes about what it means to truly follow Jesus. We are humbled by Jesus’ willingness to do such a personal and menial task. The model of love and willingness to sacrifice for others are so strongly portrayed in the simple act of washing feet. With that act, Jesus put his faith in the apostles, and through the ages, to each of us.  We don’t always understand, but we can follow Jesus’ example and model of humility and sacrifice. This sacrifice is than set forth for all time in memoriam when Jesus gives the gift of himself on the offering of the Passover feast in the bread and the wine.

MEDITATION OF THE DAY::   As you consider the Eucharistic lessons today can you imagine the turmoil and tension of that first Passover night. The people put all their trust in Moses and did what they were commanded and at midnight the darkness was filled with wailing as the angel of God took every firstborn Egyptian, man and beast. Amid confusion and fright the Hebrews left Egypt, following their leader Moses. He took them to the Red Sea and safely brought them across by parting the waters with his staff.

It is no accident that the Passion of Jesus takes place at Passover time. Jesus faced a much fiercer opponent than Pharaoh; he faced death itself. To all who were slaves of sin he promised freedom and eternal life if they would follow him. Not everyone could believe but many did and became his disciples.

When one receives the Eucharist, we should be clear that the Covenant anew is forged.   Without exception the Eucharist is a tie that binds for all space and time and the teaching Christ about our accountabilities as his disciples serves as a warning  to safeguard that which we have received as a precious gift. As a gifts of worth are charged to be safeguarded used well and wisely.

PRAYER OF THE DAY: O God, who have called us to participate in this most sacred Supper, in which your Only Begotten Son, when about to hand himself over to death, entrusted to the Church a sacrifice new for all eternity, the banquet of his love, grant, we pray, that we may draw from so great a mystery, the fullness of charity and of life. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

ANCIENT WISDOM/PRESENT GRACE:   “Into each of our lives Jesus comes as the bread of life…to be eaten, to be consumed by us. Then He comes as the hungry one, the other, hoping to be fed with the bread of OUR life, our hearts loving, and our hands serving”. Saint Teresa of Calcutta”

HOLY WEEK DISCIPLINE – Holy/Maundy Thursday is the day that sets the bar for the model of servant hood. In the morning, afternoon and evening   make a plan to commit to three acts of humble servant hood; one to a friend, one to a family member and one to a stranger.

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