2 April 2026 – Maundy Thursday

Jesus stimulates our imagination throughout the drama  of the Last Supper. Food and drink and the exercise of hospitality characterises his ministry. The table is the place where people are befriended, loved and changed.

The central feature of our celebration is what we call ’The Action’ where the minister pointedly raises the bread to full view and breaks it and lifts the cup and repeats the memorable words of Jesus.

As well as the drama of the action, there is the imaginative association which Jesus makes with the bread and the wine. ‘This is my body which is broken for you.’ he says. ‘This is my blood which is shed for you!’

Note that the pouring of the wine like the pouring of Christ’s blood is not just for church members.  ‘It is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.’ says Jesus. This word ‘many’, in its Semitic use,  really means ‘everyone’!

So the Sacrament of Holy Communion is not simply a mark of the church as it is but  a mark of the church as it will become for not only are Christians united together through the bread and wine but the whole earth! As John Lennon imagined:

You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one.

Comments

  1. MELODY JACOBApril 1, 2026 at 4:07 PM

    This is a very moving reflection on the meaning of Maundy Thursday and the spirit of hospitality. The idea that the table is a place for everyone to be befriended and loved is truly beautiful. It is wonderful to think of the world coming together in unity through such a powerful tradition.

    www.melodyjacob.com

    Please have a look at my blog.

    ReplyDelete

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