Loading...Sermon April 6, 2023
The Rev. Rebecca S. Myers, MSW
The Church of the Nativity and St. Stephen’s
Maundy Thursday, Year A
https://lectionarypage.net/YearABC_RCL/HolyWk/MaundyTh_RCL.html
Audio: /documents/Maundy_Thursday_2023_audio
Video: https://youtu.be/KGQ8oU3Ag00
This day shall be a day of remembrance for you. You shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord; throughout your generations you shall observe it as a perpetual ordinance. Exodus 12:14
As a child, my birthday and birthdays in my family were always big celebrations. There was always a cake. There were always cards from parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, many of them mailed, which was fun. My mother’s parents who we did not see often, always spent the money to call long distance and wish me a happy birthday. There was always your favorite meal. There was always my favorite cake, mostly homemade, with candles and singing “Happy Birthday.” Sometimes there was a birthday party. Once mine was held at a restaurant, which was a big treat. Of course there were presents.
The day of my birth was a big, joyous outpouring of love. A day to be remembered. I was shocked to grow up and find that other families did not celebrate like we did.
A day of remembrance. We have many days of remembrance as individuals and even as a nation. Sometimes the days are ones where something traumatic happened to us. The day of remembrance we hear about in our reading from Exodus; however, was a day that heralded their liberation from oppression. It was a day of the outpouring of God’s love.
Thousands of years later, this remembrance continues in homes of people who are Jewish. The observance of Passover began last evening. It is a day to be remembered. It is a day to be celebrated and observed.
Our days of remembrance ground us. They remind us who we are. They connect us to our creator.
Maundy Thursday is a day of remembrance for us as a parish and as the Episcopal branch of the Jesus movement. This day has been remembered by faithful generations of believers. One of the earliest known guides to believers is called the Didache or teaching of the Twelve Apostles. It is dated to the first century or early 2nd century, maybe even as early as 40. Listen to these portions and directions from nearly 2000 years ago:
Didache Chapter 8
8:3 And do not pray like the hypocrites, but pray as the Lord commanded in His Gospel;.
8:4 Our Father, who are in heaven, hallowed be Your name;
8:5 Your kingdom come;
8:6 Your will be done, as in heaven, so also on earth;
8:7 give us this day our daily bread;
8:8 and forgive us our debt, as we also forgive our debtors;
8:9 and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one;
8:10 for Yours is the power and the glory for ever and ever.
8:11 Pray thus three times in the day.
Didache Chapter 9 regarding the eucharist:
But as touching the eucharistic thanksgiving give thanks thus.
9:2 First, as regards the cup:
9:3 We give You thanks, O our Father, for the holy vine of Your son David, which You made known to us through Your Son Jesus;
9:4 Yours is the glory for ever and ever.
9:5 Then as regards the broken bread:
9:6 We give You thanks, O our Father, for the life and knowledge which You made known to us through Your Son Jesus;
9:7 Yours is the glory for ever and ever.
9:8 As this broken bread was scattered on the mountains and being gathered together became one, so may Your Church be gathered together from the ends of the earth into Your kingdom;
9:9 for Yours is the glory and the power through Jesus Christ for ever and ever.
Chapter 10.
10:1 And after you have eaten enough, give thanks thus:
10:2 We give You thanks, Holy Father, for Your holy name, which You have made to dwell in our hearts, and for the knowledge and faith and immortality, which You have made known to us through Your Son Jesus;
10:3 Yours is the glory for ever and ever.
10:4 Almighty Master, You created all things for Your name's sake, and gave food and drink to men for enjoyment, that they might give You thanks;
10:5 but gave us spiritual food and drink and eternal life through Your Son.
10:6 Before all things we give You thanks that You are powerful;
10:7 Yours is the glory for ever and ever.
10:8 Remember, Lord, Your Church, to deliver it from all evil and to perfect it in Your love;
10:9 and gather it together from the four winds, sanctified for Your kingdom which You have prepared for it;
10:10 for Yours is the power and the glory for ever and ever.
10:11 May grace come and may this world pass away.
10:12 Hosanna to the God of David.
Chapter 14.
14:1 And on the Lord's own day gather yourselves together and break bread and give thanks, first confessing your sins, that your sacrifice may be pure.
Nearly 2,000 years and much of our service is the same. Isn’t that amazing?
Tonight as in most times of our eucharist, we will say the words of what is known as the sursum corda or upward hearts. You know… it’s the opening to our eucharistic prayer – Lift up your hearts. This dates back to the 3rd century!
Tonight we remember the first time Jesus told us to eat the bread and drink the wine in remembrance of him. A day of remembrance that we are just the most recent believers to observe. It is such a powerful remembrance for us that we do it often, usually at least once a week. Why? Why is this day of remembrance so important for us and to us?
Because sharing a meal is an intimate act between us. It says we are in relationship with each other. We are connected to each other.
Because this meal in particular is a special meal reminding us of the teachings of Jesus Christ. We are reminded of his commandment to love one another. We are reminded that others will know we are followers of Jesus because of our love for one another. We are reminded of our commitment to follow Jesus and to live Jesus into our world.
Because confession is good for the soul and helps us grow and learn. Just as the first Christians, we include confession in our service. Our eucharistic meal is one of thanksgiving and one of forgiveness. Through this meal we know our sins are forgiven. All of those things that have taken us away from God are removed and we are connected to God again.
So on this day of remembrance, come to the table for blessing. Come to the table to be fed. Come to the table of love.
Amen
Didache: /digital_faith/documents/3309679
