Maundy Thursday and Necessary Endings

Today is Maundy Thursday, the Thursday before Easter, the evening that some churches celebrate the Last Supper Jesus had with his disciples. During the Last Supper (Luke 22, Matthew 26, Mark 14) Jesus celebrated the Passover (Exodus 12) and alluded to his betrayal and death. During the Last Supper Jesus also gave thanks for the bread, telling his disciples it is his body, broken for them, to eat in remembrance of him. He also takes the cup and tells them it is the new covenant of his blood, poured out for them. He speaks of death and remembrance. He tells them to remember him before he has even died, like a living funeral (I first learned of a living funeral while watching Tuesdays with Morrie). He alludes to his death, a necessary ending.

Today is Maundy Thursday, the Thursday before Easter, the evening that some churches celebrate the Last Supper Jesus had with his disciples. During the Last Supper (Luke 22, Matthew 26, Mark 14) Jesus celebrated the Passover (Exodus 12) and alluded to his betrayal and death. During the Last Supper Jesus also gave thanks for the bread, telling his disciples it is his body, broken for them, to eat in remembrance of him. He also takes the cup and tells them it is the new covenant of his blood, poured out for them. He speaks of death and remembrance. He tells them to remember him before he has even died, like a living funeral (I first learned of a living funeral while watching Tuesdays with Morrie). He alludes to his death, a necessary ending.

If you attend a Maundy Thursday service you will most likely take the Lord’s Supper (or Eucharist) and will be part of a service that is quite somber in tone. I remember attending my first Maundy Thursday service a few years ago and leaving the sanctuary to incredibly sad, somber, heavy music. It was odd to me to leave a worship service with that tone, but that is exactly the tone that conveys the Last Supper. This necessary ending, Jesus’ death, was coming.

We all face endings in our life. Some of them seem quite unnecessary and others, often upon reflection, seem quite necessary. Many times we do not see the necessity of endings and may never see them as long as we live. Some endings seem quite senseless and are incredibly confusing. These are painfully difficult endings. Some endings we wished would have not come so soon. Other endings cannot come quickly enough. Endings are reality and can be brutal.

In regards to our spiritual lives and inner transformation, Parker Palmer says, "The gift we receive on the inner journey is the knowledge that death finally comes to everything – and yet death does not have the final word. By allowing something to die when its time is due, we create the conditions under which new life can emerge." (Let Your Life Speak)

Jesus’ necessary ending of death made way for the greater necessity of life – resurrection. Some of the greatest things in life require necessary endings. The greatest thing in life did. I’m grateful that the greatest thing, Jesus’ death, was an ending that led to an even greater beginning – resurrection and eternal life for those who believe in Christ.