Seeker

In these days of lockdown due to the coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic, we are discovering who the people are on whom are lives depend. Many of the keyworkers at this time are those least valued by society in monetary terms. I'm thinking of people like careworkers, hospital cleaners, refuse collectors, the lowest paid in food production and distribution etc. You can make your own list. When Jesus' disciples had an argument about which one of them was the greatest, Jesus placed a little child by his side as a symbol of someone less valued than those who boasted of their importance, but who should be welcomed in Jesus' name. He told them that "the least among all of you is the greatest" (Luke 9: 46 - 48 NRSV). Today is Maundy Thursday. It is the day when Christians remember the last meal that Jesus shared with his friends. John's Gospel tells us that during supper Jesus got up from the table, took off his outer garment, tied a towel around himself and began to...

One of the great joys of life is sharing a meal with friends of family. Today is Maundy Thursday, a day when Christians remember Jesus' 'Last Supper' with his friends. In particular we remember Jesus' command that he gave to his  friends, that whenever they break bread and share wine they should do it in remembrance of him. "Do this in remembrance of me" he said. The central way that Christians obey this command is through the shared special meal known as the 'Breaking of Bread' or 'The Lord's Supper' or the 'Holy Communion' or the 'Eucharist' or the Mass. It doesn't matter what you call it. The essential thing is that friends and followers of Jesus meet together, take bread and wine, give thanks and share the broken bread and wine in remembrance of Jesus. And in doing so we discover again that Jesus is really present with us and among us. We may also discover that Jesus is present wherever and whenever people e...

On Thursday of Holy Week Christians remember 'The Last Supper' - the last meal Jesus shared with his friends before his arrest. One of the things that Jesus did during that supper, according to John 13: 1 - 11 was to take the role of a slave and wash his disciples' feet. Joan Bidwell wrote a beautiful poem reflecting on this event: SUPPER BEING ENDED  In the quiet place at close of day he washes the feet of my mind from the dust of its feet. His infinite eyes see the staining and wounds of the road, his hands bring smarting and cleansing and balm. The grace of his health restores my soul her place in the circling stars of perpetual praise. Then, taking again the seamless robe, the Alpha-Omega, Master and Lord, we talk together, friend with friend. Poem by Joan A. Bidwell I mage Credit: Jesus Washing the Disciples’ Feet by Leszek Forczek, found here  https://www.faithandleadership.com/nathan-kirkpatrick-maundy-thursday

In the Garden of Gethsemane "They went to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, "Sit here while I pray". He took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be distressed and agitated. And he said to them, "I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and keep awake." And going a little further, he threw himself on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. He said, "Abba, Father, for you all things are possible, remove this cup from me; yet, not what I want, but what you want." He came and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, "Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep awake one hour? Keep awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."  And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words. And once more he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy; and they did not know w...

Today is the time to remember the last meal that Jesus shared with his friends on the night before he died, the night he was betrayed by a friend and arrested. During the meal Jesus took bread and wine, gave thanks, broke the bread and shared it. He asked his followers to remember him every time they did the same. St Paul describes it like this: "...the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, 'This is my body that is for you.' In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.' For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes." 1 Corinthians 11: 23 - 26 (NRSV) Perhaps that is the most obeyed commandment of Jesus. Much harder to obey is the 'new commandment' he gave to his friends that same night: "I...

3 'mandates' of Jesus are recalled on Maundy Thursday. At a meal with his disciples on the night before he died, Jesus told them: to share bread and wine in remembrance of him to wash one another's feet  to love one another  In a ritual sense the sharing of bread and wine in remembrance of Jesus is probably the most obeyed of any of these three.  F oot-washings often form part of Christian worship on Maundy Thursday as a reminder that we should have the same attitude of humble service that Jesus demonstrated. To love one another is specifically for the community of Jesus' followers. Did Jesus know how hard they (and we) would find that? It is a 'new commandment', additional to the great commandments to love God and to love neighbour.  The recognition of our failure as Christians to share food and drink generously, to serve humbly and to love one another as Christ loves us throws us back on our need for "the all-transforming pres...

God our Father, you have invited us to share in the supper which your Son gave to his church to proclaim his death until he comes: may he nourish us by his presence, and unite us in his love; who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Common worship Collect for Maundy Thursday Image:   Vessels of the Lord's Supper by Mike: Flickr, CC Licence

Bread and Wine, painting by Kjersti Timenes 2003 Supposing you knew you had only hours to live? What would you do with the time  left?  Jesus knew he was about die. What did he do? He shared a meal with friends. Today we  remember what Jesus did and said at that meal, before he was betrayed and arrested. Maundy Thursday is about doing what Jesus said, imitating what Jesus did. “Maundy” is from “mandatum’ or “command”. It refers to the mandates given by Jesus at the Last Supper. What were these? to share bread and wine in remembrance of him to wash one another’s feet to love one another. 1. To share bread and wine in remembrance of Jesus This is how this command is passed on in one of the earliest books of the New Testament: "...the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, 'This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.' In the same way ...

I love this poem inspired by part of John 13, the gospel reading for today, Maundy Thursday. SUPPER BEING ENDED   In the quiet place   at close of day   he washes the feet of my mind from the dust of its fret.   His infinite eyes   see the staining and wounds of the road, his hands   bring smarting   and cleansing   and balm.   The grace of his health   restores my soul   her place in the circling stars of perpetual praise.   Then, taking again the seamless robe, the Alpha-Omega,   Master and Lord,   we talk together,   friend with friend. Poem by Joan A. Bidwell