Holy Thursday

THURSDAY HOLY WEEK 2020

Thursday in Holy Week is always a special day in the journey with Jesus.

In years past we would have gathered together to ponder on the themes for the day, which would include coming round the Lord’s Table.

This year, we have to ponder these themes largely in isolation from others.

I simply offer this short meditation which covers one or two of the themes for today.

Perhaps you can find a quiet space during the day, or in the evening to come to a quiet space and meditate on these words.

On the first day of unleavened bread, when the Passover Lambs were being slaughtered,

the disciples asked Jesus,

“Where would you like us to go and prepare for the Passover supper?”

So he sent two of his disciples with these instructions.

“Go into the city and tell a certain man,

The master says, my appointed time is near; I am to keep the Passover with my disciples at your house”

The disciples did as Jesus directed.

They prepared for the Passover and in the evening he came to the house with the twelve.

Jesus knew that his hour had come that he must leave the world and go to the Father.

He had always loved his own who were in the world, and now he was to show the full extent of his love.

During supper, Jesus, well aware that the Father had entrusted everything to him,

He had come from God and was going back to God.

And so, he rose from the table, laid aside his garments, and taking a towel, tied it round him.

Then he poured water onto a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel.

Peter, cried out, “You’re not going to wash my feet! I won’t let you; it’s not your job!

It’s not your place to be seen doing servants work. I have called you master, and now you act like a servant, please stop!”

Of course Peter, this is what he must do. And this is what you must let him do.

To prevent it...........is to pretend to be perfect, and you are in need of as much washing as us all.

This whom you call “master” is your Lord.

To be Lord means to be the servant; to do the dirty work, and to do it in love.

And, greater love has no man than this..............................than to lay down his life for his friends, and for those who reject, betray, deny.

Jesus power is in his weakness. And you may not know that today, and you will not think it tomorrow, when from a cross, he hangs helpless.

But, this is the way the world is transformed........................

By loving the unlovely, by dying for the lifeless, for forgiving those whose hearts are too stubborn to see, what they are, and who he is.

So, let us be still, and let our feet be washed, let our protestations fall silent,

Let our Lord do for us, that which we must do for one another.

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”

Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Prayer.

Servant King you kneel at our feet: show us how to serve.

Gracious Host you break and bless the bread: show us how to share.

Suffering Friend you pour out your heart: show us how to wait with you.

Quieten our hearts and our minds, that we may open ourselves to you.

Amen.