What is Maundy Thursday?

 

During Holy Week, Jesus is quite active in his ministry while in Jerusalem before he and his disciples celebrate the Passover on Thursday afternoon-evening. On Monday, he clears the temple of the money changers (infuriating the Temple officials and other Jewish leaders.) Through the rest of the week, he continues to teach and is confronted by various Jewish leaders trying to entrap him.

Maundy Thursday is the most ancient of the Holy Week Services in our catholic tradition. It is a service of great significance, and when we engage our God in worship in this service through Word and Sacrament, we connect ourselves in a unique way to those who celebrated this “new Passover” for the first time. In this special Thursday service, we are also unified to all who have celebrated the Eucharistic Sacrifice in time and space, and to all who will be celebrating it together on this night across our nation and across the globe.

On Thursday, the disciples secure a room where they can all celebrate the Passover meal. It is at this meal that Jesus does and says some very surprising things. Firstly, he insists on washing the apostles feet, teaching them that spiritual power and service are interrelated in the Kingdom of God. What often looks humiliating to a world drunk with power, is life giving for those who lead and love the true followers of God.

Secondly, he gives them a mandate: “That you love one another”. While this commandment is taught in the Old Testament, Jesus calls it a “new” commandment based on his example, humility, and his coming redemptive work: “as I have loved you”. The next few days would be monumental. Thus, we get the name for Mandatum (mandate) Thursday, or Maundy Thursday.

Finally, Jesus fulfills the Jewish Passover by being THE true Passover sacrifice that had come to save the world. Thus, He establishes the new Passover Meal: The Lord’s Supper, i.e., Holy Communion. Earlier on Thursday, myriads of lambs would have been slain and prepared for roasting at the Temple in  preparation for the multiple Passover meals occurring throughout Jerusalem. On Friday morning, Jesus, the Lamb of God would be slain as the truly perfect sacrifice for our sins.

Soon following the Passover dinner, Jesus is betrayed, arrested, and stripped of his clothing. At the end of our service on Thursday, we also strip the table and altar area and leave it stark and barren. We leave in silence, honor, and meditative focus on the gifts the Lord gives us on this night, and the reality of their extreme expense.

I hope that you will join us for this service on Thursday, April 17^th at 6:00 pm.