Rev. Stephen E. Stults
St. Paul’s Anglican Church
We are confronted with two things tonight: Divinity and Purpose. Both are clearly demonstrated in the words and actions of our Lord, Jesus Christ, through holy Scripture and Church Tradition. Maundy Thursday, otherwise known as Holy Thursday in many parts of the Church, is a special night in so many ways. How can we say this? As important, what is the application to our lives? What outcome for us is the result?
We know why Maundy Thursday is special…. Tonight, our Lord did many things. First, He foreshadowed His Sacred death on Good Friday, soon to occur. Although it would not be apparent on Holy Thursday, or even on Good Friday, this death would forever change the course of human history. This one execution, accomplished in the most brutal way, would establish the world’s foremost religion, and solidify it with the only recorded act of physical resurrection. This did not happen until Easter Sunday, but it was prefigured on Maundy Thursday.
Before this mighty act of redemption, accomplished at Golgotha, Christ did something else: He set an eternal remembrance of what He was to do, thus cementing the mind of the Church to this central act of Christianity. The Last Supper, which Jesus yearned to celebrate with his disciples before His Passion, forever told the story of His sacrifice and our redemption.
Within the next three days after the Supper, Christ would clearly and convincingly demonstrate His Divinity. He shook off the bonds of physical death and forever made them null and void for all believers. Death has no power over us. We are free. Only Divinity can demonstrate such power. Yet, there is more…. Before demonstrating His Divinity, Jesus the man would show Himself what He also was: a man, human in all aspects save one: He alone was sinless. Although human in every way, He alone escaped the curse of Adam and the taint of deadly sin. Even so, He went to the Cross, bled, suffered, and died.
We know there was purpose behind this horrific Death. It was not in vain, nor was it ordinary. Jesus, despite what some voices would like us to hear, was not merely some misunderstood Teacher executed by the Romans through the machinations of the Jewish authorities. This was not a random act of state-sponsored violence. Nor was it only a massive injustice conducted on a completely innocent man. While this is no doubt true, and likely the greatest story of betrayal and senseless death, to regard it only as such does God a grave injustice. It denies the Passion of Christ the majesty it deserves. We Christians know there was eternal purpose to Golgotha. We hear in our minds the words of St. Peter telling us of our redemption from the Blood of the Lamb “unblemished and spotless”,” foreknown before the foundations of the world.”[i] Our God, who embraces eternity and is the great I AM, has always willed this Purpose. He who sees both the beginning and the end as one has blessed us with the purpose: the means to realize eternal life with Him.
This is our outcome, beloved of the Lord. God has willed through His Son that we should celebrate this glorious outcome with Him forever. This is wonderful and full of comfort to us. Yet, knowing our frailty and the tempestuous sea of trials and temptations that surrounds us, He left us a token of his purpose to give us new life. We enter into that reality every time we eat and drink the Lord’s Supper. Whether in the Roman usage: Mass, in the Greek usage: Eucharist, in the English usage: Holy Communion, it is the same glorious act of worship that binds us together as Christians. “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes.”[ii]
This wonderful worship, tangible yet mysterious, real yet ethereal, comes to us laden with purpose and with outcome. What, you may ask, is this promise-laden outcome? How may we benefit from it and how may we bear fruit for the Kingdom of God?
Holy Communion yields us benefits we can receive nowhere else. When we communicate with God, we actually take Him into ourselves by faith. We eat and drink Him for our soul’s welfare. We receive an infusion of grace in a wonderful and lovely way. We are in a state of grace when we leave this place and receive strength for the days ahead. How wonderful this is!
Yet, there is more…. As we allow ourselves to be drawn into the mystery of liturgy, we actually move into the presence of God. We uplift our spirits to Him, and we say, “Therefore, with angels and archangels and with all the company of Heaven…” Now, we have entered the Throne Room of God and approach it boldly in the Name of Christ. We offer praise and thanksgiving with all the heavenly host as we proclaim: “We laud and magnify thy Glorious Name, evermore praising thee and saying, Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts, Heaven and Earth are full of Thy Glory. Glory be to thee, O Lord Most High.”
Having offered our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, we descend to earth and partake of the Supper of the Lord. In a real and meaningful way, we eat and drink our Lord, to the nourishment of our bodies and the welfare of our souls.
Yet, beware of the terrible danger involved as well as we perform this act. Unworthy reception will damage our soul and imperil our life with God. When you come to this holy Table, repent you truly of your sins, forsake your hatred and malice, whatever there may be and resolve to embrace the Grace of God. Our Lord knows your spiritual condition better than you yourself; nevertheless, repent and seek forgiveness with an open and honest heart as you look to the grace offered ahead.
What a blessed time this is! What an opportunity to commune with your God!
May this time, instituted by Divinity, infused with purpose, and laden with outcome, remain the central act of your life.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
AMEN.
[i] I Pet. 1:19-20
[ii] I Cor. 11:26
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