“When the hour had come, Jesus sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him. Then He said to them, ‘With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.’ Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, ‘Take this and divide it among yourselves; for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.’ And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.’ Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.’… [When the supper was over], He went to the Mount of Olives, as He was accustomed, and His disciples also followed Him. When He came to the place, He said to them, ‘Pray that you may not enter into temptation.’ And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and prayed, saying, ‘Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.’ Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” (Luke 22:14-20, 39-44 NKJV)
The liturgical mood of Holy Thursday is complex. It begins with grandeur… Yet quickly enough the mood shifts as the liturgy moves to its conclusion. The momentum of the Passion story asserts itself and we find ourselves aware of the coming, dark events, the necessary descent before the rising. We move, as it were, into the garden with Jesus where He retires and waits. We, like the disciples with whom He pleads to remain, watch and pray.
Traditionally, the Maundy Thursday service has no closure. We leave the church unaccompanied by music or benediction or blessing. The altar is stripped of the celebrative dressing. The church is left stark and bare. We hear the footfalls echo as we leave in silence.
-- Wendy M. Wright in “The Rising”
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