Thursday, April 1, 2021
Maundy Thursday
Jennifer Stevens
The Collect
Almighty Father, whose dear Son, on the night before he suffered, instituted the Sacrament of his Body and Blood: Mercifully grant that we may receive it thankfully in remembrance of Jesus Christ our Lord, who in these holy mysteries gives us a pledge of eternal life; and who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Readings: Exodus 12:1-4, (5-10), 11-14, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, John 13:1-17, 31b-35 & Psalm 116:1, 10-17
Maundy Thursday is the Thursday that occurs just before Easter. Quite a bit happens in these short passages in 1 Corinthians and the gospel of John. We read about the last supper when Jesus has his very last meal with his disciples. The last time he gathers with his friends. It is where we get the language for our Sunday Eucharist. He foretells his death and that he will be betrayed by one of them. Jesus washes their feet and instructs them to love and to serve. He ends his time with his disciples by empowering them with one of the greatest commandments, to "Love one another as I have loved you."
I can only imagine the atmosphere in the room that night. Finding out your leader, the one you idolize and try to emulate with your whole being will be leaving you…forever. The sadness, confusion, denial, desperation. Trying your best to soak in all you can from him, to listen and remember all you can. The feeling of “What now?” “How will we move on from here?” “Who will lead us?”
The Maundy Thursday service is perhaps my favorite service of the year, even in light of the sadness and desperation of the first Maundy Thursday. For me, it is contemplative, vulnerable and real. It occurs in the evening. Most people don’t dress in their Sunday best. They often come from work or in their casual clothes after a long day. It’s typically a smaller group of people, some parishioners, some not. Young, old, women, men, single, widowed, families, people from NH, ME and MA, democrats, republicans, gay, straight, CEO’s, healthcare workers, hospitality workers, unemployed. Some I recognize, some I don’t. You get the scene.
It is such a moving service for me. The devoted Altar Guild members making sure all the chairs, water basins, towels, and water are prepared. Standing in the wings and at the ready to change out water, replenish with fresh warm water and clean towels. The slow gathering of community, many strangers, some feeling anxious and cautious about others washing their bare feet, but taking the risk. It is a beautiful scene to watch, even if you choose not to participate. Compete strangers washing each other’s feet and the barely noticeable smile or nod of thanks afterwards, husbands and wives, mothers and children, clergy and parishioners, those similar and others with nothing in common but our own humanity. We are all the community of God. In Jesus’ words, “servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them.”
Jesus instructed his disciples, and us, to love and to serve, and used himself as an example on Maundy Thursday. In a world so broken and reeling from a global pandemic, let us take this simple act of kindness and let it inspire us to be Jesus’ hands and feet in this world.