Today, Christians around the world are celebrating Maundy Thursday or Holy Thursday. Maundy or Holy Thursday commemorates the washing of the feet and the Lord’s Supper. Priests, pastors, ministers, and lay leaders re-enact Jesus’ washing of the disciples’ feet by washing the feet of their parishioners and congregants followed by serving of communion.
Maundy comes from the Old French word mande which is derived from the Latin word mandātum meaning mandate or command. It is believed that Jesus commanded his disciples to “love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another” after the final meal.
1 Corinthians 10:14-17; 11:27-32
10:14Therefore, my dear friends, flee from the worship of idols. 15I speak as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. 16The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a sharing in the body of Christ? 17Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.
11:27Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be answerable for the body and blood of the Lord. 28Examine yourselves, and only then eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29For all who eat and drink without discerning the body, eat and drink judgment against themselves.
30For this reason many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. 31But if we judged ourselves, we would not be judged. 32But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.
I was serving the communion elements one Sunday and I noticed a woman is sitting in a wheelchair outside. She has been outside listening to the worship service. So, I grab one of the communion drinks and went outside to give her the communion elements. Before I could give her the elements, she asked me, “Is it okay for me to have communion?” I looked at her, smiled, and nodded. I stood outside with her as she eats the bread and drinks the grape juice. She teared up a little and told me that it has been years since she took part in the communion. Later that day, I wondered why she asked me that question; does she thinks she is not deserving to partake in the communion; why?
Today’s meditation word(s) is examine. It comes from the Greek word dokimazo meaning to put to the text, to prove, to examine.
What do I examine as I eat and drink the elements of the Lord’s Supper?
