Faith Daily | 1 April 2021
PRAYER of the WEEK Until Thursday Evening
Almighty and everlasting God,
of your tender love towards us
you sent your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ,
to take upon him our flesh,
and to suffer death upon the cross,
that all should follow the example of his great humility:
mercifully grant
that we may both follow the example of his patience,
and also be made partakers of his resurrection;
through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
GOSPEL for the Day: John 13: 1-17, 31b-35
Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper 3Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, 4got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. 5Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him. 6He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 7Jesus answered, “You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” 8Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.” 9Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 10Jesus said to him, “One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.” 11For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, “Not all of you are clean.” 12After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? 13You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am. 14So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. 16Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. 17If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.
Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. 32If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. 33Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’ 34I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. 35By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
GOSPEL Reflection: Contributed by Rev'd Jan
For those who would like to include in their Maundy Thursday reflection time the other readings allocated for this day they are:
Exodus 12:1-14; Psalm 116:1-2, 11-18; 1 Corinthians 11: 23-26.
This is the day/night when we are invited to join the generations of faith in the day of remembrance. It began as Passover remembrance that fateful day for Jesus and his followers, recounting and reliving God’s saving act for Israel in the liberation of the beginning of the Exodus. That fateful night Jesus brought together the past, present and future as he blessed and shared the bread and wine. Then he modelled humble service as he took the basin and towel and washed the feet of his disciples.
“Jesus’ simple gesture of taking a basin and towel to wash his disciples’ feet presents disciples in every age with an enduring challenge. Every time that we run the risk of being seduced by power in any form this scene should come to mind. Simple acts of service, care and love are to be the hallmarks of the followers of Jesus.” Lenten study “It’s all about hope”. 2021
Perfect love. And we are called to live it in our lives by loving one another as Jesus loves us. In this way Jesus becomes known in the world – and there is no other way except through us, his living body, his church, living as he calls us to be. We are who he has, and who he is.
FINAL PRAYER: Collect for Maundy Thursday APBA p497
Holy God, source of all love,
on the night of his betrayal
Jesus gave his disciples a new commandment,
to love one another as he loved them:
write this commandment in our hearts,
and give us the will to serve others
as he was the servant of all,
who gave his life and died for us,
yet is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen