The top pictures show key scenes during Maundy Thursday – the footwashing and the institution of the communion.
Maundy Thursday marks the beginning of the Triduum, the last three days of Holy Week, in which our worship flows in one continuous liturgy, beginning with the Maundy Thursday service. “Time is suspended as we ponder and celebrate the great mysteries of our redemption.” The word “Maundy” is derived from Middle English, Old French and from the Latin word mandatum, meaning “commandment,” the first word of the phrase “Mandatum novum do vobis ut diligatis invicem sicut dilexi vos” (“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another, as I have loved you”), the statement we hear from Jesus to his disciples in tonight’s gospel reading.
The bulletin is here. The description of Holy Thursday with the Bible readings and commentaries is here. A photo gallery of the service can be found here. We had 20 in the service compared to 17 the year before.
The sermon is here. It focuses on Jesus inviting us to dinner at his home.
“…Jesus is welcoming us into his own home, which is in God.
“Jesus has come from God and is going to God, and so Jesus makes sure that even though we cannot go, in this life, to where he is going, that we will always be with him and he will always be with us, even as we wait for him to return.
“And so he invites us to this meal at his heavenly Father’s table, the banquet table of God.
“And he welcomes us as God welcomes us, with humility, and as one who serves, by washing our feet.
“So tonight, and every time we gather to eat this bread and to drink from this cup, we proclaim the fact that Jesus was here with us, that he is here with us now, and that we will be with him when he comes again in glory.
“This dinner and this footwashing remind us to look within and to look out beyond ourselves, into the world…
“And when we know that God welcomes each one of us, as imperfect as we are, then we can love one another, even as we are frequently aware of one another’s imperfections!
“If God can love me, with my sins and shortcomings, then I can love you, even if you get on my nerves, or make me angry. I can love you anyway, because after all, God loves me!
“This dinner and this footwashing also remind us to look without…
“So tonight, God gives us the joy of knowing that we are at home already, dining at God’s table already, and that God is serving us as treasured guests at this table, until we come to sit at God’s heavenly banquet table.”
Jesus spent his entire life on earth reversing power structures through the things he did—eating with sinners, casting out demons, courageously speaking up and demanding that those in authority in the temple eliminate the destructive corruption that was destroying the temple.
On that last night with his disciples, Jesus took away the “stethoscopes” of the disciples. As he washed their feet, he showed them, through his actions, that they wouldn’t need power, or prestige, or recognition, or wealth to be his disciples. They wouldn’t need to distance themselves from one another through a hierarchy. Not one of them needed to be first.
Of note in the service was the choice of hymns – "Humbly I adore thee","As in that upper room", "In remembrance of me", "Stay with Me", "O Lord, hear my prayer." The Maundy Thursday set of hymns is very rich.
Maundy Thursday was both a celebration of those times with friends but also acknowledgment that things would end quickly. The disciples did not always understand. At the Last Supper Jesus would be a server and servant – of the bread and wine and also washing feet and encourage the others to do the same. This was the worst – washing feet caked with dirt and grime made worse by the sandles they word. He was acting as a lowly servant so that they would understand the necessity to serve.
By this action Jesus would show God’s love and they would show it others also. " You call me Teacher and Lord–and you are right, for that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them."
The foot washing this year emphasized the above portion of the Gospel. Usually the priest washes the parishioners’ feet. This year Catherine washed Johnny’s feet and then he washed Cookie’s. And so it went forward..
He provided them a new expanded commandment of love one another – "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." This would be through prayer, care and action. This love is the Agape love where we provide for the well being of others. Love is transformed into giving and receiving for all including the sinner and tax collector. It is not just between friends but includes enemies.
Maundy Thursday is known for the stripping of the altar which is part of the preparation for Good Friday. After the Last Supper, less than 24 hours remained for Jesus. Indeed the plotters had to execute him before Jewish passover began on Friday evening at sundown. Our altar was stripped after Psalm 22 which starts out “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
Events moved rapidly – prayer in Gethsemane, betrayal by Judas, arrest, mock trial, painful beating, the trudge to Golgotha and execution. As His life was stripped from Him, so we strip our altar of the signs of life to symbolize His purposeful, redemptive suffering and death for us.
The candles are extinguished and removed. Candles represent the "Light of the World" Jesus said; "I Am the light of the World" in recognition of the darkness following the death of Jesus on the cross, the candles are removed from our presence.
We did have a period of silent prayer at the end with music medication in remembrance of Jesus time of prayer on the Mount of Olives and in solidarity with all who seek strength in time of prayer.