Maundy Thursday
A Word about the Readings
by Father Gethin
(The readings may be found here)
The birth of Jesus is the redeeming of time by the coming of God among us: by His presence, our story of Godless darkness and condemnation is illuminated and pardoned, through His love for us. It means for God to take us back from our broken ways, into the healing life of His way. But He cannot compel our salvation: it must be given, and only if we should accept His gracious gift, fruitfully received. That is the meaning of the Eucharist, the sacrament of His own body and blood: His Incarnate life of suffering and redemption, His whole person, offered freely and graciously, so that we might turn with faith and thanksgiving to receive Him. “This is my body, given, this is my blood shed, for you.” In this way He fulfills the Father’s goodness, and reveals the meaning of His Passion: it is not merely a murderous scheme, perpetrated upon the innocent, patiently suffered; it is His free gift of himself, precisely in spite of the violence, because of His love for us. He will accept the cup of anguish, because He longs so deeply for us to receive the cup of blessing, His gift of life, the New Covenant, in His blood.