Holy Thursday -- When the Greatest Became Our Servant

We're in the throes of the most unlikely Holy Week of our lives. We won't be attending church during this sacred time. But, nonetheless, I've done my best to keep the "holy" in the Lenten season and Holy Week. I've savored the oddities -- meeting and praying with others via Zoom, joining with others in 3:00 pm daily prayers, fasting and even, participating with Pope Francis when he gave an "Extraordinary Urbi et Orbi" Blessing to the world. It was awe-inspiring to see and experience.

This blessing is usually offered on Christmas Day and Easter Sunday. The popes appear on a balcony overlooking St. Peter's Square at the Vatican that is crammed with people. A brief address is given and a blessing is offered. I have been to St. Peter's Square twice for the Wednesday General Audience, once, with my husband and several years later with dear friends. The square is crowded with enthusiastic crowds. The Pope gives a brief address, offers a blessing, then gets into his Popemobile and makes some laps around St. Peter's Square. Along the way, he reaches out to the occasional baby that is being lifted up for a blessing. (This photo was taken from where we stood.)

On Friday, March 27th, the scene was completely different. No crowds. Empty square. Night was falling and it was raining. The normal pomp and ceremony of a papal event was stripped away. Alone, Pope Francis entered St. Peter's Square. He stood as an imperfect, humble priest, shepherding and praying to God on behalf of a desperate, frightened flock. (2nd photo)

He reminded us that our Lord Jesus should always be our "normal" for He is our hope and stay. A man said he and his wife had been praying for a return to normal during this time. After Pope Francis' actions on that Friday, the man's wife said the pandemic is revealing the need not to pray for a return to normal. They wanted to pray for something else -- conversion, because normal, the way life was before, will no longer do. God has not abandoned us. As Pope Francis said, "Where God is, there is life." I know that LIFE!

Today we recall Thursday of Holy Week when Jesus modeled what a Servant Leader looks like (or, should look like). Jesus -- the greatest of ALL, was servant of ALL, as He washed His disciples’ feet. He, with the towel and basin, is KING of the universe. The same hands that shaped the earth, the stars and the moon, washed away grime and filth. He wanted His disciples to know how much He loved them. Jesus knew they were about to betray and deny Him, yet He loved and served them. Such extravagant love – such excessive SERVICE.

Jesus explained why He served them: “I’m setting an example for you. You should do what I have done to you.” Jesus called them to serve, to carry on His ministry of loving and caring for people. Christ talked the talk and walked the walk. He led by example. Such love -- such service! Surely we have those in our lives who cause irritation to us -- especially in this time of "cozying up" with our families. Doesn’t it make us aware that He Who was perfect and knew no sin, could set the example for us on how to deal with the onery and irritating ones in our lives? To be like Him, we SERVE. We serve by loving, sharing and giving, for in that serving, we become like Him.

After the Last Supper, the apostles and Jesus journeyed to the Garden of Gethsemane where He asked them to pray. There He experienced His agony. Holy Thursday has a special place for me as I recall my trip to Israel and my visit to the Garden of Gethsemane. We were awed by the garden's beauty, but overcome with emotion at the rock where it is said that Jesus prayed “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” (Matt 26:37). And to pray those words ourselves, “Lord let this situation, pain, fear, agony – pass from me, NEVERTHELESS, not my will but Yours be done.". Isn't that how we should be offering up our prayers in these times that we are in right now?

Jesus prepared His disciples to carry on. Pope Francis encouraged us to carry on. I'm sure that is Jesus’ message to us, too! Today, we have the opportunity to be servants to our family who are under our roofs and servants to others outside our homes by offering our words of support and any actions that could help them. What an incredible flow of forgiveness, mercy, love, servitude and sacrifice from Jesus then, and continues to flow to us and flow through us to others today. Oh Lord, may we be your servants today -- to follow, serve and love You, and others, as You served and loved.

That Filet Knife Can Sure Slice and Dice

All that blood! On our fishing trips, I am the designated cook. It’s my pleasure. I love rustling in all the fisher-people for their next chow-down. My son, Larry, is the fish-filet-er. He uses the sharpest filet knife to get the perfect, boneless filets for our big fish-fry. It was that knife that was laying on the counter when I needed something sharp to open a plastic bag. I grabbed it and sliced open the bag AND the palm of my hand. All that blood! Fortunately, it wasn’t a deep cut, but still in an area where a band-aid just couldn’t keep the blood from flowing.

I thought about that "bloody" scene when I read my devotion scripture from Exodus. Imagining my scene with the filet knife was minor compared to all the bloodshed in those sacrificial offerings. It makes me squirm a bit, but I get it. Blood played such an important role in the everyday life of the Israelites. When Moses splashed the blood of animals on the altar and sprinkled it on the people, everyone saw it as a beautiful, moving gesture. Can you even imagine – ALL THAT blood? But, that blood, the substance that gave life, sealed their covenant with God. It connected them with the altar of His presence.

We know the rest of the story. God lived up to his part of the covenant by making the Israelites His special people and by giving them the Law. But they didn’t always live up to their part. Sure, they promised to obey God’s commandments, but they often failed. Nevertheless, in the face of their failures, God remained faithful to them. He wouldn't give up on his beloved people! But that just wasn't good enough to God. Over time, He prepared for them AND us a new, better covenant, one that would be sealed not with the blood of animals but with the blood of his own Son, Jesus. Now, Jesus’ blood, shed on the cross, has the power not only to cleanse us from our sins but to give us the grace to live in holiness and blessing. Through His blood, we are forgiven, healed, and protected. Thank you, Lord, for YOUR blood sacrifice for us.

Jesus initiated this new covenant at the Last Supper when He said, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which will be shed for you” (Luke 22:20). Every time we receive communion, we relive the Last Supper. God reminds us: “I have made an eternal covenant with you. I have given myself to you, all of myself, so that you can live with me forever.” What a GIFT!

This is our God, a God who continues to pursue His people, even when we stray. This is our God, who renews His covenant with us every time we receive the Body and Blood of His Son. What a gracious Father we have!

This is the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you. (Exodus 24:8)

#TBT Throw-back Thursday -- Holy Thursday

It almost seems disrespectful to title my blog “Holy Thursday” AND “Throw-back Thursday” – but isn’t that what today is to us? It is remembering how Jesus shared a Passover meal with His disciples, and that meal invoked Holy Communion (Luke 22:19-20). We hear His words: "As often as you do this, you do it in memory of Me!" And, we do REMEMBER!

Getting new Easter clothes, expecting Easter surprises along with an Easter egg hunt that followed Easter Sunday church services is a sweet memory each year. As precious as those memories are, they pale in comparison to the memories of what Christ taught us during this Holy Week. Today is Holy Thursday of Holy Week when we recall the Last Supper – the night that Jesus set the greatest example of what it is to be a Servant Leader. Jesus -- the greatest of ALL, was the servant of ALL, as He washed His disciples’ feet. He, with the towel and basin, is KING of the universe. The same hands that shaped the earth, the stars, and the moon, washed away grime and filth. He wanted his disciples to know how much He loved them. Jesus knew they were about to betray and deny Him, yet He loved and SERVED them. Such extravagant love – such excessive SERVICE. "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." John 13:34. That's a tall order, isn't it? But that ORDER (Command) is one that can change everything in our own lives AND the world if we would take that COMMAND and act on it.

Christ certainly didn't just talk the TALK -- He walked the WALK. He led by example. Jesus prepared His disciples to carry on. I think that’s Jesus’ message to you and me, too. Surely there are those that cause irritation in our lives. In fact, like Jesus, they may have denied us, deceived us, rejected us, spoke evil against us, and completely disappointed us. Doesn’t it cause us to have a great sense of awareness that He Who was perfect and knew no sin, could set the example for us on how to deal with those honorary folks in our lives?

It certainly makes me pause to ask the question: "Am I a devoted follower of Christ, even to the cross to bear witness of Him and His love for me?" I pray the same words of Peter to Jesus: "Lord, wash me, cleanse me, purify me so that I too may be presented as a vessel of honor to You." What an incredible flow of mercy, love, forgiveness, servitude, and sacrifice that flowed from Jesus then, and continues to flow to us today. Oh Lord, may we be your servants today -- to follow, serve and love You, and others, as You served and loved.

Holy Thursday – Maundy Thursday

Maundy comes from the Latin word “mandatum”, meaning mandated or commandment. How appropriate for our Lord’s mandate tonight: “A new command (mandate) I give you: ‘Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another’" John 13:34.

Jesus was up to His own mandate today. His time had come. His disciples were sent to prepare a Passover Meal for them. Little did the disciples know what that Passover Meal would lead to. I can only imagine, after their Passover Meal together, the shock that Jesus’ disciples had when they saw Jesus take up the basin and towel, kneel in front of them and one by one, washed their feet, calluses and all. He was their Master, not their slave.
In those days, it was the servant’s role to wash the feet of their owner’s guests. Those feet were dry, dirty, calloused and cracked because they had walked for miles in their sandals. To wash someone’s feet was truly an act of servitude and humility.

When When finished, Jesus explained, “I’m setting an example for you. You should do what I have done to you.” I wonder if the disciples finally understood. They had been hand-selected by Jesus from the crowds, so they were special. But Jesus didn’t call them so that they would enjoy an “elite” status. He called them to serve, to carry on His ministry of loving and caring for people.

At our Holy Thursday service tonight, there will be foot washing of 12 pre-selected individuals and then we will proclaim our own commitment of service to one another. We will remember Christ's love for us as we celebrate His Last Supper, where Jesus invoked the very first Holy Communion. After the Last Supper, Jesus and His disciples made a short journey to the Garden of Gethsemane where His agony would begin. Tonight, we will process to our chapel to pray.

I knew Holy Thursday would take on special meaning to me as I recall my trip in June to Israel when I visited the Garden of Gethsemane. There were mixed feelings by our travel pilgrims, inspired by the beauty of the garden and trees that dated back to Jesus’ times, but in the Sanctuary of Gethsemane was the site of the massive rock where Jesus had prayed. It was incredibly humbling to kneel and place my hand on it and realize this was where Christ prayed in agony and His sweat became great drops of blood: “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; NEVERTHELESS, not as I will, but as you will.” Matthew 26:37. To say our group was overcome with emotion, puts it mildly because many of us had arrived at that word, NEVERTHELESS, in some of our own experiences. To be willing to pray, “Lord let this situation, circumstance, pain, fear, agony – pass from me, NEVERTHELESS, not my will but Yours be done." The photos here are of two of our men, embracing each other as they could not contain the emotion of knowing what Christ had done for them. The other photos are of the garden and the rock.

Jesus watched the soldiers as they marched toward him with torches in hand. He could have called on 10,000 angels for back-up or He could flee at any time, but He was resolved -- His time had come. He waited for them to arrest Him. He would suffer illegal trials, torture, and death because of His love for you and me. He considers our eternal life with Him is worth His death. Jesus prepared His disciples to carry on. I think that’s His message to you and me, too. Today, we are the ones standing in front of people from all cultures and backgrounds, who are all suffering from their own brokenness and in need of a Savior. What an incredible flow of mercy, love, forgiveness, servitude and sacrifice that flowed from Jesus then, and continues to flow to us today. Oh Lord, please make us your servants today -- to follow, serve and love You and others, as You served and loved.

The Way We Were

#TBT – Day 91 of Photo Inspirations – The Way We Were – Easter 1980
Thank you, Facebook, for the joys you’ve given me…..in so many ways – especially the opportunity to remember -- OUT LOUD!   Getting to go through archives of the past, is both a hoot and a sweet way to recall some really precious times.

This photo was taken at our church in Shawnee, OK.  It was a big deal, big enough to dress up for the big celebration of Easter.  Had to get those new Easter outfits and an Easter bonnet.  I had enough hair back then, that unmistakably served as all the hat I needed.  ;-)  And after church, it was all about the Easter egg hunts.  Every family would bring a dozen colored eggs and some appointed folks would hide them in a nearby field.  Then we’d have a spirited time of finding them all.  I remember being one of those kids – doing my best to load up my basket.

But remembering the new clothes and Easter bunnies and baskets and egg hunts, as sweet as those times are, nothing compares to the true meaning of this victorious time of celebration.   Today is Holy Thursday – the day of Holy Week, that we recall the Last Supper – the night that Jesus set the greatest example of what it is to be a Servant Leader.   Jesus -- the greatest of ALL, was servant of ALL, as He washed His disciples’ feet.   He, with the towel and basin, is KING of the universe. The same hands that shaped the earth, the stars and the moon, washed away grime and filth. He wanted his disciples to know how much He loved them. Jesus knew they were about to betray and deny Him, yet He loved and SERVED them. Such extravagant love – such excessive SERVICE. "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." John 13:34.  That's a tall order order, isn't?  Love as He loved us.

Christ certainly didn't just talk the TALK -- He walked the WALK. He led by example. Such love -- such service!   And, what an example He was for us.  Surely there are those in our world that cause irritation in our lives.  In fact, like Jesus, they may have denied us, deceived us, rejected us, spoke evil against us, and completely disappointed us.   Doesn’t it cause us to have a great sense of awareness that He Who was perfect and knew no sin, could set the example for us on how to deal with those honorary folks in our lives?  To be like Him, we SERVE.  We serve by loving, sharing and giving, for in that serving, we become like Him.

Well Done, Good and Faithful Servants

Day 47 of Photo Inspirations.  Well Done Good and Faithful Servants
While delivering Valentine's flowers last week, my delivery partner and I were inspired by the sweet heavenly messages we received along the way.  

These first two photos are the beautiful store front window of an Interior Designer, where we delivered  flowers to its owner. I loved this life-size mural of "The Last Supper", with the red candles hanging in front of it.

And I loved the words on the window:  "Gather together; Give gifts; Share love".  I know their emphasis is on what we should do as we gather together, but it also speaks volumes about what took place on the night that Christ and His disciples joined together for their last official meal together.  They GATHERED TOGETHER.   He GAVE GIFTS -- the bread (His body) and the cup (His blood).  'This do in remembrance of Me.’  And, He  SHARED LOVE -- He became a servant to them as He washed their feet.  

This 3rd photo is that of a home we delivered flowers to next.  "Soli Deo Gloria "  was above the doorway of that gorgeous home.   Those words mean "Glory to God alone". Perhaps the owners of that home were telling us that they were giving God the glory for His gifts to them.  Those words have been used by artists like Johann Sebastian Bach and George Frideric Handel to signify that their work was produced for the sake of praising God.

Last Friday was about giving ourselves in service, and God tapped us on the shoulders to awaken our spirits to His presence with us.  No, I don't take these encounters lightly -- that my friend and I would be on a flower mission.....and it ends up with us being the recipients of the kisses from heaven along the way.  I think I even heard in the encounters a little message that said, "Well done, good and faithful servants!"