Holy Thursday and the mass of the Lord's supper.

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Maundy Thursday, also known as Holy Thursday, is a significant day in the Christian calendar. It commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with his disciples, where he washed their feet as a symbol of humility and service. The term "Maundy" comes from the Latin word mandatum, meaning "command," referring to Jesus' commandment to love one another as he loved them.

This day is observed with various rituals, including the washing of feet, Communion, and in some traditions, the distribution of Maundy money as an act of charity. It marks the beginning of the Paschal Triduum, leading up to Good Friday and Easter Sunday.

Maundy Thursday is rich with traditions that reflect humility, service, and remembrance. Here are some key practices:

1. Foot Washing: This ritual recalls Jesus' washing the feet of his disciples during the Last Supper. Many Christian churches replicate this act as a gesture of humility and service.
2. Communion or Eucharist: The Last Supper is commemorated with the sharing of bread and wine, which are Jesus' body and blood.
3. Blessing of Oils: In Catholic traditions, sacred oils are blessed for use in sacraments throughout the year. Either on Wednesday or on Thursday.
4. Unique Regional Customs: For example, in Germany, it's called "Green Thursday," and penitents receive green branches as symbols of atonement.

These traditions emphasise love, humility, and community. Do any of these resonate with you?

 

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Do any of these resonate with you?

Well, I'm not into traditions, but humility and service and . . . what is it? Oh, remembrance . . . yes. These are what I should be valuing. But how am I, really, as a person? I can say, Yay these things, but I need how God makes my character really His love's way.

Jesus' commandment to love one another as he loved them

Definitely meaningful . . . needs to be meaningful all the time, not only on scheduled days. And how are we to know how Jesus was and loved?? We were not there with Him. But in us Jesus can grow so we become loving in sharing with Him in us. This is to be discovered, then, as we grow in Christ and His grace changing our character. I find this includes being humble, in the sense of not looking down on anyone, but being all-loving. And love as family with others who are into all-loving.

The term "Maundy" comes from the Latin word mandatum, meaning "command," referring to Jesus' commandment to love one another as he loved them.

Now, I am well aware that Jesus has told us to love each other the way He has loved us, plus we have scriptures of our Apostle Paul >

"forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you" (in Ephesians 4:31-32);

"And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma." (Ephesians 5:2)

But hearing the word "Maundy" . . . it does not quite call my attention to this.

But . . . pointing out that this means a *command* . . . Jesus commands us to love like He has loved. So, this is not just some nice platitude, but required. Jesus really does want us to be so blessed ***in~sharing~with~Him*** so we can love like Jesus in us loves. He wants this intimacy for every one of us. This is not some ideal for only certain special super-saints. This is basic, commanded, what God's grace does in every one of us whose character is being cured and matured by God's grace.

He is the One who is super and spiritual and holy to do this in any of us.

So, yes we do have the Lord's Supper in "remembrance" of Jesus. And this should have our attention not only during special occasions, but all the time. I would say the "remembrance" of Jesus can include being in His love as remembrance of Him. And then keep on living and loving in this love. We might get a special inspiration and blessing of grace during a traditional ceremony, but this can be a "model" of how to keep on being all the time.

And prayer can be like this. While we are in prayer, we can get more with God, but then stay this way while doing different things and relating with different people. Get modeled in prayer . . . prepared in God's love . . . so then we are the right way in this love all the time with different people and doing different things.

And any time we are sharing with another child of God - - - we can be strengthening one another in this.

I now think of what Jesus said to Peter >

"Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren." (Luke 22:31-32)

Ok, so now I am getting something > this is a sample of how Jesus loved us. Jesus knew how Peter would deny Jesus three times. And this happened before Peter denied Jesus three times > already Jesus had prayed for Peter to come back to Jesus and then to strengthen his brethren.

So, are we loving people by praying for them with forgiveness even before they do things to us???????

And Jesus did not only pray for Peter to get so blessed. But Jesus prayed for Peter to also strengthen others the way the prayer of Christ got Peter blessed. So, the prayer of Jesus was all-loving prayer, not just favoritistic for Peter. And the benefit of Jesus' prayer was to minister on from Peter to others.

Jesus says, "your brethren" > all the brothers and sisters of Peter . . . all of God's family in Christ . . . no one being less or more than anyone else, but all to become "conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren." (in Romans 8:29)

So, with Jesus pray with this hope > love "hopes all things" (in 1 Corinthians 13:7) < in God's love, pray with Jesus. Share so with Jesus and one another. Jesus did not pray for Peter to only get out of his sin trouble, but to get into all-loving sharing with God and spread the grace of this to all of us.