Maundy Thursday Devotion – Pastor Erick Thompson
Luke 22:14-20
When the hour came, he took his place at the table, and the apostles with him. He said to them, ‘I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I tell you, I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.’ Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he said, ‘Take this and divide it among yourselves; for I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.’ Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.’
Maundy Thursday is sometimes the forgotten service of Holy Week. We’re not sure if it’s foot washing, first communion, or the stripping of the altar. But, the reality is that the key to understanding Maundy Thursday is presence, specifically Christ’s presence. This is the last night, the last meal Jesus will share with his disciples. After this meal, Jesus goes out to the garden of Gethsemane and is arrested. This evening, this meal is special because Jesus is still present with the disciples. It is this presence that we celebrate, because we believe that three days later, Jesus comes out from the tomb on Easter Sunday morning so that he can be eternally present with all of us.
Yet, it is hard to talk about presence at a time like this. My girls miss their grandparents. The other day I was thinking about how nice it would be to go to a restaurant and sit down for a meal. I miss seeing my friends and family. I miss their presence. Given what’s happening in our lives right now, a person’s physical presence with us is missed terribly. It is in these times that it is vital we celebrate the presence of Christ in our lives. We are not alone. Christ is with us. God is with us.
I hope this Maundy Thursday you are able to find a way to claim and to celebrate the ever-present Christ in your life. This Easter season, more than perhaps any other, we will be mindful of presence. We will be aware of those who are with us, and those who cannot be with us. And, in the midst of these mixed emotions, I hope you will remember that it is Christ who sits down with you at your table on Easter Sunday. You are not alone; your God is with you always. Amen!
Prayer: Dear loving and present Christ, please remind us daily of your continued presence in our lives. Help us to be ever mindful of this during these uncertain times, and especially this Easter Sunday. We ask all this in your graceful name, Amen.
