Meditations in Lent: Thursday in Holy Week '20

Readings: Ex 12:1-4, (5-10), 11-14; Ps 116:1, 10-17; 1 Cor 11:23-26; Jn 13:1-7, 31b-35

           For the Passover, God, through Moses and Aaron, promised protection to all whose homes displayed the blood of a sacrificed lamb and proclaimed it a day of remembrance forever.
         On this night, Jesus knew his earthly life was coming to an end. In his Last Supper with the Disciples, he gave us the mystery of the sacrament of His Body and Blood ~ the Eucharist ~ as a New Covenant with God, a perpetual remembrance of Him as the blood sacrifice for the redemption of us. On this night, Jesus surprised his Disciples by washing their feet, as a servant would do, to show them humility. And on this night, he told them that Judas would betray him, and, that Peter would deny him 3 times.
               The name for this day varies with Christian worship traditions: Holy Thursday, Great and Holy Thursday, or even Thursday of Mysteries. The Anglican/Episcopal tradition calls it Maundy Thursday which some think may come from the Latin mendicare for beg or, from mandatum for mandate or command. We now enter the solemn Easter Triduum [trid-oo-um] , a period of three days, that in its fullest extent, begins with a Liturgy tonight, reaches its high point in Easter Vigil on Saturday night, and concludes with Evening Prayer on Easter night. In this time of Covid 19, our attention and our prayers, even at a distance from one another, are as important as any other year, perhaps more so now. 
              However you choose to name it, on this night, Jesus said, 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.
           

Jesus, Lamb of God,

         Gathering for Holy Eucharist is our primary remembrance of You. Yet in these times we must receive and remember You in our hearts, our thoughts, and through our prayers for the safety of one another and ourselves. Tonight, let us remember You in the Garden of Gethsemane with the disciples who could not stay awake with You for even one hour. It's hard to imagine having to find a way to stay awake all night, in fear, outside, to watch someone else pray for something you don't quite understand. Would I have had the prayer words I'd need? Do I have them now? How much time are we willing to give on this night, and in any day or night, to remember You in fear, in joy, or in everyday activity?  

           Lord Jesus, my Savior, thank You for all You have done for me and for all of us. Help me to be a reflection of Your love and humility in this world so that I may rightly be known as a disciple, as a Christian. As a small token of remembrance before I turn to sleep, whatever the day has brought, I offer these words Lord Jesus, Son of God, and as I breathe out, Have mercy on me, a sinner.  amen. [I'll try to remember to repeat until sleep arrives and any/all other times breathing occurs]

           And, Lord Christ, bless and keep all those who stay awake whole nights and days at a time caring for the sick and fearing for themselves and their own families as we hold them in prayer. Also, let us remember and pray for those who at risk working in areas we all take for granted ~ grocery stores, gas stations, delivery drivers, postal carriers, and trash collectors. Keep us ever aware and mindful of all the people and all the little things of life that we have usually overlooked in our recent "normal" times. Let us love one another in every day close in and at a distance, family, friends, and strangers alike. Let us love You by who we are and how we are in this world. Amen.

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