| "Maundy Thursday"
The Rev. Catherine L. Wright
March 20, 2008
Maundy Thursday
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church
Glen Ellyn, IL
The simple things in life.
The Lord is full of compassion and mercy: O come, let us adore
him.
So, we have begun our long service that begins today and ends
with the dismissal on Saturday at the Vigil. One long service
with a couple of big intermissions. We will gather again tomorrow
night, with no entrance rite and no dismissal - a service that
is really just the middle portion of the service we begin tonight.
We gather on Saturday night to remember God’s saving action
towards us throughout history and to conclude the service. Remembering
that Jesus is not dead, but is ever alive.
There is a bad joke in my family about today. Maundy Thursday?
Well which is it? Monday or Thursday? I didn’t say it
was a good joke… Maundy, not Monday. Meaning commandment.
Meaning just do it.
There is a nice website that has reflections about Lent. The
man who put it together was originally going to post his own
reflections on Lent, as he had done for Advent. Then, the thought
popped into his head that he should do it in community. Invite
others to offer their reflections. Post from a variety of people.
Now my tendency is to try and push that type of idea away -
“I have a plan, let’s just stick with that”.
He didn’t. He listened. As he put it “I’ve
quit arguing with that voice.” His comment made me laugh
out loud. We see that with Peter today. He is trying to argue
with Jesus. No Jesus, what you want to do I think is not a good
idea. Don’t do it. Really, who do you think is going to
win in this exchange? When do we get to the point where we KNOW
we don’t know everything and just accept that what we
are instructed to do is what we should do? Do as we are told
- particularly when we are talking about instructions from God.
I am ready for spring. Today is the official start. Now, I
know. The prediction is for six to eight inches of snow tonight.
Freezing temperatures. Sometimes here there is snow as late
as May. I get it - this is a colder place then where I have
lived before. Spring here is the wet, muddy season. Not all
daffodils and sunshine. But it is coming and I am grateful for
it. There are green shoots coming up in the garden by the office
door. The trees have buds on them. There is new life showing
itself in small ways. Small ways. Not a sudden explosion, but
simple, meaningful small signs. Three steps forward, one step
back ways. But getting warmer - showing new life.
Small signs, like when we reach over and touch the hand of
another. Rub a child’s back, or smile in encouragement
when they are trying their best. Making time for a friend when
they just need to talk. And that is what we see Jesus doing
in these final days. Taking the regular things, the bread and
wine that were always present and shared at a Jewish supper
and giving them new meaning and strength. Taking water and the
necessity of the times - the need that the disciples had for
their feet to be cleaned - and demonstrating love. Bread. Water.
Time. Attention. Love being shown for others. Even as Jesus
is about to be betrayed, he is busy loving those around him.
He has just been anointed with perfume at Lazarus’ home
by Mary. Prepared for death, anointed as a king. A huge, over
the top gesture. But that is not what we are always commanded
to do - not the over the top, but sometimes the simple things.
We send bread, a few cans of food to those in our community
as a sign of our love and a fulfilling of the commandment. We
work for clean water for those without in obedience to Jesus’
commandment to love others. Cards sent to Nigromante. Plants
delivered to shut ins. Prayers offered on Sundays. Prayers offered
during the week. Time spent with our outreach partners. Kind
words for the man, Marty, who led our Seder here last night.
Bread. Water. Time. Attention. Eucharist. Baptism. Fellowship.
All these things together. Small things. “By this everyone
will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one
another”. (John 13:35) So we are commanded. Told to do
something. Bread. Water. Words. Touch. With Judas present, Jesus
loved them and cared for all of them. With imperfection in the
church today, Jesus loves us and cares for us. The others did
not know what Judas was up to - who that cancer in their midst
was. Jesus seems to be saying, it doesn’t matter. Love
each other anyways - everyone. I will wash all of your feet,
even the one who is going to betray me. This is the night of
love. The commandments are all about love, and we are told to
love. To remember Jesus’ love for us, that even as he
is being betrayed and about to be killed, he is giving to his
disciples. Giving them a way to continue with him through the
bread and wine. Cleaning their feet so that they know of the
depth of his service to them. Taking these simple things and
making them so much more.
We have the commandment to do this - to share the bread and
cup. That it is Christ’s body and blood for us. We have
the commandment to serve - to do whatever needs to be done,
no matter how lowly the job. See the needs of those around you
and respond. Do what needs to be done. Invite others - share
the life that God offers to us through these simple, everyday
things made extraordinary and over the top by the power of God
when we listen and do as we are commanded.
May our lives and our simple actions be made, by God, into
so much more.
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