Holy Thursday

-

Today as we embark on the most holy three days we remember in a very special way the mystery of God’s love for us. We gather this evening as the disciples did in that upper room. We gather with Christ. We watch and listen to the words and actions. And that is what I want you to do this evening. I want you to watch and listen and learn about God’s love for us. Watch as the feet are washed around the Church in a few moments. As Christ did for his disciples who he was sent to serve so I as priest do to you who I have been sent to serve. And think of what it means the feet the most used part of the body sometimes smelly sometimes tired and they are washed as a sign of service and love.  So today is the institution of the priesthood. It is one of unselfish service and love for all people. Shown in this beautiful act of service.

The drama continues at the Altar a symbol of Christ. It is here that we discover the institution of the Eucharist. Listen as Christ tells to “Do this in memory of me” something that has been done unbroken all through the ages. Christ’s command to take and eat and take and drink to digest Jesus.  Today like that first Eucharist we meet Christ and see this act of love. We shall see tomorrow the greatest sacrifice of his life to save us from our sins but, tonight he gives us his body and blood. When we receive Jesus in communion what do we say Listen again to what we say a simple word which means so much we say “amen” yes I believe and we say it in a loud voice.

The drama takes a dramatic turn of events. We move from this great Amen and move from to the Garden of Gethsemane. We take ourselves with Jesus to the Altar of Repose. The mood changes to quiet reflection we place ourselves with Jesus and watch and pray with him.  We remember those words that Jesus said to his disciples “can you not wait just one hour with me? “ Everything soon will be striped and gone the world will feel empty. Even the disciples will leave him and deny him. I will show this symbolically by throwing the altar cloth of the altar. The altar the symbol of Christ is stripped bare.

These acts of love that we encounter over the next few days gives us a moment of reflection. We think who am I that this God of ours gives us him very self. I gaze on the drama that is unfolding and realise it is because I was made by God. That God love me so very much that he invites us to eat of him. He invites us to “Do this in memory of me” He shows us an example so that we may do the same.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Fashion tips for what its worth.

-
Image
The Other day I had an Conversation with someone about Fashion. I am not sure if many of you know but I used to work in Top shop in Oxford Circus. So I thought I woulds share with you some of the trend that might look good for the Summer of 2012.  First of all I am really pleased to say that there seems to be a little colour back into the high street this season. This must be because of the bad weather that people want to wear bold and primary colours. Although I am not sure about the hat in the lower picture. Am I old fashioned enough to say that hats and woolen hats should be winter wear and not summer wear. Fresh and clean colours are in this year.   Good but loose the hat. The black and grey days are over and we can see that these are both stylish from the ladies but also a Casual look from the lads. But there are some fashions that are clearly wrong and should be left alone. See the Green Jumper down below. I don't really know where to ...
Read more

More than many Sparrows

-
A number of years ago I worked in Oxford Street in Top shop. I was working in the exchange and refund department. I was suprized by the amount of people that used fashion to hide who they really were. The one thing that they would say quite a lot was that they shopped and brought clothes to make them selves feel better. Now this is not a homily against retail therapy or against fashion shops but I have to say I met a lot of people that used this and other things to get over the pain that they did not either like themselves and therefore feel love of another person.  It is true to say that there are many times in our lives where we are afraid to be our true authentic selves. We hide behind the masks that we portray. We are one thing to one person and another to someone else. We try our best and hardest to try and please everyone where we almost become like a camelion. I suppose the question I have is why do we do this. Why do we waste so much energy trying to be all things to a...
Read more

Jesus and Travel plans

-
Image
Whenever I go away on holiday or just over night I always without fail over pack: I take loads of stuff away with me and half the stuff I don’t actually use or need. In my mind I have the phrase going through my head “Oh I might just need that.” And then when we get back we actually realised that I did not need it at all.  Basically I do not travel light. I would have then great difficulties I think being a disciple. I would not be able to cope with the travel plans that Jesus would have given me. No spare tunic no, no money, no travel insurance.  Jesus tells us that all we need his authority and the gift of ourselves the talents and gifts that we have been given by God. Mark says nothing in this Gospel about what the disciples said in their missionary activity the most important thing here is presence and through that presence they are witnesses to the Gospel. So what do the disciples tells us about what it means to be Gospel. The phrase that comes into my mind ...
Read more