Maundy Thursday Each day we will take a look at a sentence from the Lord’s Prayer.Give us this day our daily bread. Give us today our daily bread.While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, ’Take, eat; this is my body.’ Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.’ Matthew 26:26-28 When friends know that they are about to part, they often share a meal and give meaningful farewell gifts to one another. The Passover meal that Jesus was celebrating with his friends was a solemn occasion which every family in Jerusalem would also have been enjoying. It began with a prayer praising God for his deliverance, his guidance and his goodness. Because bread had become the silent symbol of God’s faithfulness to Israel, the father of the family would then take the crisp Passover loaf in his hands and break it. Jesus followed this tradition closely. He, too, took the pitta-like loaf in his hands, blessed it and broke it, but as he handed it to his friends, he added onto the traditional prayer one of his own: ‘Take, eat; this is my body’. Later, again taking the tradition, he took a cup of wine and haven thanks for it and gave it to them, and then he added, ‘Drink from it all of you; for this is my blood……poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins’.I’m sure those first disciples felt moved and amazed if not confused by these events. For by breaking open the loaf, Jesus was implying that he himself was open to them, offering the whole of himself voluntarily. They would realise that Jesus’ offer to ‘take’ demanded a response: it was an invitation to them to commit themselves to him and his mission. For us when we come to celebrate the Eucharist, the Holy Communion, Jesus is saying – I am offering you the gift of myself. Will you in return, give yourself to me? A projectHold a lump of bread. Feel its texture. Smell it. Break it. Then eat it – slowly. Be aware that it is becoming a part of you. Think of Jesus’ invitation to ‘take and eat’. Think, too, of the wider implications of that invitation. Place a lump of bread with the Palm Cross, Photo/names, battery ad keys, to remind you that Jesus is our daily bread.PrayerMake your own response to the invitation.Bring your needs to God and thank Him that He meets those needs. Pray for those who are in need, especially those in need of food and friendship.
Maundy Thursday Each day we will take a look at a sentence from the Lord’s Prayer.Give us this day our daily bread. Give us today our daily bread.While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, ’Take, eat; this is my body.’ Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.’ Matthew 26:26-28 When friends know that they are about to part, they often share a meal and give meaningful farewell gifts to one another. The Passover meal that Jesus was celebrating with his friends was a solemn occasion which every family in Jerusalem would also have been enjoying. It began with a prayer praising God for his deliverance, his guidance and his goodness. Because bread had become the silent symbol of God’s faithfulness to Israel, the father of the family would then take the crisp Passover loaf in his hands and break it. Jesus followed this tradition closely. He, too, took the pitta-like loaf in his hands, blessed it and broke it, but as he handed it to his friends, he added onto the traditional prayer one of his own: ‘Take, eat; this is my body’. Later, again taking the tradition, he took a cup of wine and haven thanks for it and gave it to them, and then he added, ‘Drink from it all of you; for this is my blood……poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins’.I’m sure those first disciples felt moved and amazed if not confused by these events. For by breaking open the loaf, Jesus was implying that he himself was open to them, offering the whole of himself voluntarily. They would realise that Jesus’ offer to ‘take’ demanded a response: it was an invitation to them to commit themselves to him and his mission. For us when we come to celebrate the Eucharist, the Holy Communion, Jesus is saying – I am offering you the gift of myself. Will you in return, give yourself to me? A projectHold a lump of bread. Feel its texture. Smell it. Break it. Then eat it – slowly. Be aware that it is becoming a part of you. Think of Jesus’ invitation to ‘take and eat’. Think, too, of the wider implications of that invitation. Place a lump of bread with the Palm Cross, Photo/names, battery ad keys, to remind you that Jesus is our daily bread.PrayerMake your own response to the invitation.Bring your needs to God and thank Him that He meets those needs. Pray for those who are in need, especially those in need of food and friendship.
Wednesday of Holy Week reflectionEach day we will take a look at a sentence from the Lord’s Prayer.Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. You are God’s temple and God’s Spirit dwells in you 1 Corinthians 3:16Originally, the people who observed Lent were new converts to Christianity. Since they were all to be baptised together on Easter Day, Lent formed the final part of their Baptism preparation. The Lent readings included the story of the Transfiguration to show these young Christians that just as the likeness of his Father shone through the humanity of Jesus and transformed him, because the Holy Spirit lives in us and is at work in us, we can also be changed. In his Letters to the Corinthians, Paul uses powerful picture language to help us to understand.In the Book of Revelation Jesus tells us that he stands at the door and knocks. He is waiting outside the door of our life waiting to be invited in. When his life fills us, he transforms us and his glory shines through us. This is when God’s will is being done on earth and in heaven. A ProjectImagine that, day-to-day, Jesus literally knocks on your front door. You let him into your home, take him on a tour, invite him to take up residence there. How does it feel to have the King of Glory living with you? Can you hand over the keys of your life as well as your home to him? Place a set of keys (any old ones will do) with the Palm Cross, photo/names, battery to remind you that you have invited Jesus to live in your life and home.PrayerTalk to God about your reactions – the things you find difficult as well as the things which seem easier.‘I ask you Lord to rule over all parts of my life. Help me to let your light shine where ever I go.’
Wednesday of Holy Week reflectionEach day we will take a look at a sentence from the Lord’s Prayer.Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. You are God’s temple and God’s Spirit dwells in you 1 Corinthians 3:16Originally, the people who observed Lent were new converts to Christianity. Since they were all to be baptised together on Easter Day, Lent formed the final part of their Baptism preparation. The Lent readings included the story of the Transfiguration to show these young Christians that just as the likeness of his Father shone through the humanity of Jesus and transformed him, because the Holy Spirit lives in us and is at work in us, we can also be changed. In his Letters to the Corinthians, Paul uses powerful picture language to help us to understand.In the Book of Revelation Jesus tells us that he stands at the door and knocks. He is waiting outside the door of our life waiting to be invited in. When his life fills us, he transforms us and his glory shines through us. This is when God’s will is being done on earth and in heaven. A ProjectImagine that, day-to-day, Jesus literally knocks on your front door. You let him into your home, take him on a tour, invite him to take up residence there. How does it feel to have the King of Glory living with you? Can you hand over the keys of your life as well as your home to him? Place a set of keys (any old ones will do) with the Palm Cross, photo/names, battery to remind you that you have invited Jesus to live in your life and home.PrayerTalk to God about your reactions – the things you find difficult as well as the things which seem easier.‘I ask you Lord to rule over all parts of my life. Help me to let your light shine where ever I go.’
