Maundy Thursday Reflections
Washing of the Feet,
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Maundy Thursday Thoughts
Today, Church families around the globe will gather for the Maundy Thursday festival.
In many communities, the assembled will only be the faithful few. There will not be large crowds as one might expect. Of course, our feast is one of a borrowed nature from the Hebrew people, in their celebration of Passover.
In the Hebrew tradition, these celebrations would take place in the family home. It would have been a very simple meal filled with symbolic tradition.
Here, at St. John the Baptist in Duncan, we will gather with similar attention to the symbolism in the foods we will share. Each has a distinct meaning.
Our gathering will be inclusive of the parish family along with invited guests.
After we have washed the hands of our neighbour, we will gather in the parish church for the institution of the Lord’s Supper (Holy Eucharist), ending with the stripping of the Altar: symbolizing the darkness to come upon the world in the crucifixion of our Lord.
Here, at St. John the Baptist, our coming together will be in the form of an Agape meal.
(The Agape gathering is most often celebrated in relation to Christians gathered in renewal.)
Marking this festival, on this night in relation to Jesus gathering his disciples, is a reminder for us not to forget “the seeds of renewal”, in our faith over the next few days.
Come Easter morning, as we receive the sacrament of Holy Eucharist, we will recognize this foretaste that we have received on this night: the gift of salvation, as promised in Jesus at supper with his friends.
On this night we say: wait, Jesus will come again.
Blessings, for this great event, to be celebrated among all Christians, to show love for all.
Brian+