Maundy Thursday – 1st April 2021
A lot of things have changed in the
way we do worship in this past 12 months. And Maundy Thursday is no exception. Much
in our bible reading tonight would not be allowed under Covid restrictions. First
there was the celebration of the very first Holy Communion service together. If
we look at artwork depicting that scene then there was no social distancing
between Jesus and the 12 disciples. There were no masks. And they were sharing
the Common Cup – the Holy Grail as it is often referred to - for the blood of
Christ and one loaf of bread passed from one person to another. And then there
was Jesus washing the disciples’ feet. Totally unhygienic when we are
discouraged to even shake hands.
Our present Holy Communion service
resembles nothing like that first communion service: Individual cups – masks, gloves,
tongs, sanitizer – no sharing of the peace – elbow bumps instead of
handshaking. Nevertheless these are not what are central to what Jesus was
teaching his disciples and us. Jesus explained to his disciples what was
central in all that they do: I give you a new commandment, that you love one
another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this
everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one
another.”
Yes, I would love things to be
different – to be the way they were. But let us not forget where we were 12
months ago. We were at home, locked out of our church buildings, and without
the sacrament for something like 6 months. I thank God every day that we can be
back together even if we have to make some small sacrifices – even if we have to one day start
wearing masks again during worship.
I think of a story I heard when I
listed to a speaker talk about Christians in some persecuted countries where
Christianity is forbidden – where Bibles are banned. If they can get their
hands on a bible, they will tear out its pages so they can share even just a
page with as many people as they can – even one page per household.
That doesn’t disrespect or lessen its
sacredness but shows a deep hunger for God’s word. I’m looking forward to the
day we can offer the common cup again – and here at Our Saviour’s the breaking
of actual bread rather than wafers.
But what is essential in this
Sacrament? It is Christ’s true presence – his body and blood for the
forgiveness of sins – and that is not compromised by gloves, masks, individual
cups. Some argue that the individual cups aren’t what we should be using – but
let us be careful that we don’t believe that Christ cannot be present because of human rules and tradition because
that is what Luther fought tooth and nail against when he insisted on the true
presence of Christ. There were those he fought against that who said Christ
couldn’t not be present in the bread and wine because he is at the right hand
of God. Therefore the bread and wine can only “represent” his body and blood.
Or think of Phillip and the Ethiopian
eunuch who wanted to be baptised. Phillip didn’t say – not until we get you to
a baptismal font and do it there. Neither did Phillip insist he do a series of
Pastor’s Classes before he would consider baptising him. Jesus spelt out
clearly to his disciples what he desires: I give you a new commandment, that
you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one
another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love
for one another.”
If we have love for God and one
another, I believe that we can look past the things we would like to have as we
gather compared to the things that make our gathering sacred and special –
God’s Word and Sacrament even with the restrictions that are presently placed
upon us. We’ve even had to accept that not every service will have live music –
but again – is that what makes God’s presence in and among us?
I think of Paul and Silas in prison
in Acts 16:25 - About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to
God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. There was no band or organ
for their hymns.
Sometimes what is central to our
faith and salvation can be lost because of the layers we put on them. Jesus
always brought things back to where the central teaching was: Where 2 or 3 are
gathered, there I am in the midst of them. Accepting the Kingdom of God with a
childlike faith. St Paul was the same in our 2nd reading today when speaking
about Holy Communion: “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as
often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this
bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. Just
like Baptism where we don’t put any instructions on how or where other than the
words Jesus commanded – in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the
Holy Spirit – we don’t put conditions on “this bread” or “this cup” other than
Jesus’ words which we call – the Words of Institution – that consecrate the
elements for use in the body and blood of Christ. Otherwise we will place a
heavy burden on consciences that there is something that we must contribute
which causes doubts as to whether Jesus is truly present – and whether our sins
are truly forgiven.
Jesus reminds us – it is our love for
one another as he has loved us that will proclaim to the world that we are his
disciples. And sometimes that love is asked of us as we show that we are
prepared to let go of our traditions for the sake of the greater good. I don’t
like wearing a mask or gloves or not having the common cup available for Holy
Communion – but if these allow us to gather and receive the body and blood of
Christ together then I will think of what Paul said – when he was confronted
with eating meat sacrificed to idols – which he was very happy to do – but if
what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat
again, so that I will not cause them to fall.
So in all that we do, whether it is
here in church or out in the public – let us show that same love for one
another as Christ has loved us and by this EVERYONE will know that we are
Christ’s disciples – if we have love for one another. And no greater love do we
see than Christ sacrificing his own life to give us his body and blood in the
sacrament.
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