Maundy Thursday

Central Family,

The word "maundy" is a Latin word for commandment.  It derives from the same root as "mandate."  Jesus issued a mandate on Thursday of the week we call Holy: "Do this in remembrance of me."   So on Thursday we gather in remembrance of Jesus as he celebrated the Passover with his followers.  All of Jesus' meals teach us:

• He "ate with sinners" (Luke 15:2) and offended the religious folk.
• He let a woman wash his feet (Luke 7:36) and another anoint him with oil (Mark 14:1).
• He suggested that when you have a banquet, don't invite those who can invite you back, but urge the poor, blind, and lame to eat with you (Luke 14:14).

But his last meal is the most surprising of all and teaches us what is most important!  The timing was uncanny and not an accident.  The Thursday of Jesus' last week was the beginning of the Passover, that sacred time when Jews celebrated God's deliverance and salvation from slavery in Egypt.  A pure lamb, unleavened bread and wine was shared.  Jesus reconstructed the Passover meal. Jesus took the bread and wine of the Passover meal and said it was his broken body and poured out blood.  Jesus told the disciples he is the Passover Lamb given for them and all of humanity.  In a mysterious and miraculous way the past and future are joined together whenever we gather for this meal.

After the meal Jesus walked out of the walled city to the Mount of Olives to pray in the Garden of Gethsemane.  Jesus knelt in pain and prayed "Not my will, but your will be done."  To listen to and do the will of God is the most important and enduring human responsibility.  Jesus asked the disciples to stay awake but they fell asleep. Things happened quickly after Jesus prayed.  He was arrested, taken away, and handed over. Jesus was abused, mistreated, and put in detention for that dark Thursday night to await the dawn of that Friday we call Good!

Who betrayed Jesus?  Who abandoned Jesus?  Who denied Jesus? 

Is it I?  Yes! I betrayed, abandoned and denied Jesus. The unfolding story of Maundy Thursday is a mirror in which I see myself.  So I will gather with you and hear Jesus' word of promise; "This is my body given for you",  "This is my blood shed for you", and "Do this for the remembrance of me". Our Maundy Thursday Worship is at 12:00 noon followed by a meal and 7:00 pm preceded by a Seder Meal (reservations were necessary). We will gather knowing how dis-membered we are in this world but then Jesus re-members us and we are reconnected to his life giving body.

Paul

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P.S.  The two opportunities on Good Friday are the Community Wide Pilgrimage at 12:00 noon (beginning in Central's Parking Lot) and the Tenebrae Service at 7:00 pm.