The Book of Exodus 12:1-14
The Gospel of John 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. It is celebrated this year before sundown on April 5
and ends after nightfall on April 13. It is a Festival of Liberation
remembering the Jews’ Exodus from slavery in Egypt.
On this Thursday, Jesus knew his
earthly life was coming to an end. In his final Passover supper with the
Disciples, he gave them ~ and us ~ the mystery of the sacrament of His Body and
Blood ~ the Eucharist ~ as a New Covenant with God, a perpetual remembrance of
Him for the redemption of us all. 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 phrase “Last Supper” never appears in the Christian/New Testament as for
Jesus and his followers, this was Passover, which coincidentally, has just
begun this week in this year. The name for this day in our time 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 say comes 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 after sundown, reaches its high point in the Easter Vigil on
Saturday night or a sunrise service on Easter Day, and concludes with Evening
Prayer on Easter night. Counting from sundown
to sundown: Thursday to Friday is 1 day, Friday to Saturday is 2, and Saturday
to Sunday is the 3rd day.
However your Faith Tradition names
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 always our primary remembrance of You.
Tonight, we remember You in the Garden of Gethsemane with the disciples
who could not stay awake with You for even one hour. In
ordinary human existence it isn’t that hard to imagine escaping into sleep as
someone else is praying 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 moments of joy, or in everyday life paying bills, grocery shopping, filling
the car with gas?
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 as I take a slow deep breath in: Lord
Jesus, Son of God, and as I slowly breathe out, Have mercy on
me.
And,
Lord Christ, keep us ever aware and mindful of You as we come across all the
people and all the activities of everyday life that we usually overlook as
unimportant. Let us love one another every day close in and at a distance,
family, friends, and strangers alike, and especially all with whom we disagree.
Let us love You by who we are and how we are in this world. amen.
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