Maundy Thursday

The great three days are here - enjoy them!

In Chapter 17 of St. John's Gospel we are reminded that the bottom line reason for all of this - everything which Jesus does - is love. This simple motivation in a complex world seems like it wil get overwhelmed - after all how can love survive the ravages of soldiers and pharisees and even death?

As the evening meal begins there is plenty of love, this evening. Imagine happy conversation - Jesus savoring voices and smells and all those things which humanity enjoys. He sees fire and fear in his disciples and when he prays for them - he prays for love - this and not their emotion will keep them with him through what is to come. Love and not their own strength will bind them to each other and somehow to God.

And this Love is the Godhead - it is worth bearing this image in mind over the next three days (the Triduum) that the disciples are not hanging on my their fingernails to the mast of a rapidly sinking ship but they are held safe and known in God's hands throughout the journey.

We are held through this journey, we are safe in love. Safe to venture out. Safe to enter in to the room and see our Lord give the gift of himself in Bread and Wine, safe to follow to the garden, safe and loved when we are found asleep and then tomorrow, despite physical fear and danger, we journey on but still surrounded by love.

So settle in to these days, read John 17 it is the prayer of one who loves you very much. If you can get to the Liturgies do, if you cannot, read the stories in the Gospels - tonight the last Supper and the Agony in the Garden - tomorrow the Passion.

May you have a Holy and Blessed journey through these days of Our Lord's Passion, dying and rising with him. May His love surround you and this story enfold you with its power and grace, and doing so may it convict you to live as a child of Grace, certain in the power of His cross and joyful in the presence of His resurrection, Amen.