It’s Holy Thursday
Tomorrow is about death;
but tonight is about love.
Tomorrow is about betrayal and fear
and confusion.
Tomorrow is about false accusation and
ultimately - death
- the death of Jesus on the
Cross.
But tonight, well tonight is about love
the love of Jesus for the
disciples,
for his friends.
The love of Jesus for a community that
he was part
of; a community that
would grow from
the little one gathered
around him this Holy Thursday into the
communities of the last 2000 years;
the community that we share
here
this night.
Tonight is about love.
But what does Jesus’ love look like?
It looks like a group of friends gathered
around a
table.
It looks like Jesus washing the feet of one
who
would betray him.
Getting close, touching feet,
looking into their eyes,
whilst kneeling to serve.
Jesus' love looks like a cup full of wine and
a loaf
of bread on a table.
It looks like those acts of love that created
the memories of who he was.
Memories of being a baby at Mary’s breast.
Memories of Wise Men who pointed his family
in the direction of safety.
Memories of learning how to carve wood
with Joseph.
Memories of God his loving Parent who called
him on the journey of a lifetime.
Memories of the wilderness
where he spoke with his
God.
Memories of John the Baptist
his childhood playmate and the one who
dipped him
into a river for baptism.
Memories of his disciples,
those he called friends.
Memories of women who along the way
reminded him of God’s call in the
midst of his
social situation.
Memories of children he loved and cared for
and of one special little boy
whose simple offering
helped him feed thousands.
Memories of sailing on the Sea of Galilee,
and then taking his first
steps out onto
the water, trusting that God would
not let
him fall.
Memories of speaking truth to power;
even when the power was
demonic
and pleaded for a new life.
Memories of anger that others didn’t,
couldn't love the way
he did.
Memories of teaching, talking,
helping anyone who came his way.
Memories of the miraculous …
the wonder
and amazement as healing
took shape; as the lame
walked and
the blind recovered sight; as the dead
were raised and captives set free.
Memories of stories
…
that made sense to some
confused others
changed lives
and angered some so much that
this
would be the last
night.
All of these memories hung in the air
that night in
the Upper Room.
Mixed in with the water used to wash feet
Sweet and sour like the wine
Nourishing like the bread.
Tonight is not about death.
Tonight is about love.
Tonight is about the passing of the torch;
and the
mystery of faith in a community
of friends and neighbours.
So let us prepare to come to the Table;
to remember God’s Love.
Let us see Jesus in the face of one another.
Amen.
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