Maundy Thursday

We come together this evening to recall in our hearts and minds the events that occurred on Thursday of what the church calls Holy Week, the last week in the life of our Lord. One-third of all the events that we have about Jesus’ life occurred during this week: Reminding us of the great significance of these last days. The disciples have gathered in a home,whose we are not sure, but we do know that it had a furnished second floor. As they gather they participate in what is called a Seder meal, one of the highlights of the Passover week. The Passover festival, of course, had beendone for centuries before Jesus came on the scene. It commemorated that time when the Jews were in bondage in Egypt. Moses warned Pharaoh to let hispeople go, but Pharaoh hardened his heart. So God sent a death over the landof Egypt, but miraculously this death passed over the homes of the Jews.Thus, the season of Passover was given birth. The meal itself was a symbolic one reminding the Jews of the sufferings oftheir forefathers and the power of God's deliverance. The foods that wereeaten were symbols to remind the Jews of their captivity in Egypt. Applesauce was eaten to remind them of brick mortar and the fact that they wereforced to make bricks with no straw. A bitter herb is eaten to remind themof the bitterness of their captivity. It was this symbolic Seder Meal that the disciples were partaking of that night in the upper room. It was at the conclusion of that meal that Jesus himself added two moresymbols. He took a loaf and broke it and gave it to his disciples saying:Take eat, this is my body which is broken for you, do this in remembrance ofme. Then he took a cup with wine. He drank from it and gave it to his disciples saying, “Drink ye all of this, for this is my blood which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sin.” Thus was born oursacrament of the Lord's Supper, out of the experience of an ancient Jewish custom. Leonardo da Vinci by his famous painting has forever impressed upon on ourminds the last supper of our Lord. The scene that he depicts is that moment when Jesus announces his impending betrayal. The disciples look at oneanother with great shock, all, that is, except Judas, who refuses to lookJesus in the face and clutches his money to his breast. I wonder as we lookat those disciples around the table if we can see ourselves. For me they represent all that is good and bad about our humanity.