Maundy Thursday (April 5, 2012)

FULL TRANSCRIPT OF FATHER SWANN'S HOMILY:

In main stream Christian Churches all around the world tonight- the faithful gather to celebrate the establishment of the great sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. Our Liturgy tonight has some changes-- The important thing is what we all do. Remember that "liturgy" means -"work of the people.” We have some “work to do” tonight. This is a “special” night also- for the MANDATUM- the night we remember that Jesus gave us a “new commandment” (maundate). The new commandment was “to love one another.” We get “Maundy Thursday” from our ancient relatives in the English Church—who re-labeled Holy Thursday into the more common Maundy Thursday.

In May 1373 Julian of Norwich, an English mystic, lay on what she thought was her death bed. There she received a remarkable series of “visions”, many of which graphically dealt with our Lord’s suffering and death. Some 20 years later, she wrote in the “Revelation of Divine Love” that she had prayed for years after her recovery to understand the meaning of these visions. She finally received this understanding—“Wouldst thou know thy Lord’s meaning in this thing? BE WELL AWARE: Love was his meaning. Who showed it thee? LOVE. What showed He thee? LOVE. Why did he show it thee? FOR LOVE. The Gospel’s appointed for tonight (in this year’s cycle of readings) comes from John--- who does not “explicitly” recall the “details” of the establishment of the Holy Eucharist (The Mass). Jesus ‘astonishing act’ at the Last Supper, according to John’s account” was Jesus demonstrating the humility of serving-- as he took the towel and washed feet, demonstrating that serving is more humble than receiving.

The other remarkable thing about tonight—detailed in all Gospel accounts except John’s--is the establishment of the great gift of the Holy Eucharist, The Mass , the Lord’s Supper—call it what you will.

The Holy Eucharist may seem the same as every Sunday, but tonight you can remember in a slightly different way "the night in which he was betrayed." Listen to it as if you were hearing it for the first time.

In retrospect, for disciples, the night would have been different anyway-- because it would be their last time together--but also—the things Jesus would say and do—foot-washing, and a very different way of blessing and sharing bread and wine. Jesus “enacted” a profound truth by symbolic action, just as he had done in riding into Jerusalem, and cleansing the Temple--and the like. His action-- that night long ago--would be an “action” forming the basis of worship for literally billions of people ever since.

In the earliest written account of the Last Supper, Paul, (who was, of course, not present), says that Jesus, as the ‘president’ of the meal took real bread, gave thanks for it, broke it, and then identified it with his body. In the same manner, Jesus took the cup of real wine and identified it with his shed blood of the New Covenant. In these remarkably simple gestures, Jesus commanded his disciples to, “do this in remembrance of me,” reliving his sacrifice until he comes again. Thank God that Jesus instructed them to “take and eat” and did not command “take and understand”. We know that sacramental theology for the last 2 thousand years has tried, without complete success, to “explain” literally what happens.

Happily- we Anglicans (Episcopalians), in our branch of the catholic church, have always held as central-- the notion of “The Real Presence” of Christ in the elements of bread & wine in the Holy Eucharist--without-- any attempt to unravel that profound mystery. I have used this famous line from Queen Elizabeth the First- more than once- BUT IT IS STILL VERY GOOD. She said, in the face of the great arguments between the Catholic minded folks in her realm of England and the Puritan (protestant minded) regarding the real presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist : "His was the word that spake it, He took the bread and brake it, And what His word doth make it, That I believe and take it."

Our Epistle reading tonight-- gives us some very familiar words-- we hear the "words of institution" used at each celebration of the Holy Eucharist. That meal that started that night--as a common well-loved meal, a good time together--ended up-- AS SOMETHING NEW. It became a "channel"-- a "means of grace"--by which we are sustained in our life.

In the Holy Sacrament- we are ‘closer to Christ’ than any other way in this world. In the sacrament He comes to “strengthen, refresh, empower and enable” us to serve Him in the spread of His Kingdom on earth. God has a problem in "reaching " us. He is infinite, we are finite. He is "spirit"-- we are "flesh." He is limited by nothing except his love-- or His own chosen "self limits" --while we are "bound to earth," surrounded by matter, engulfed in the hard necessity of making material things serve our needs. If God is to reach us at all-- he must, among other ways, DO SO THROUGH OUR SENSES-- AND THEREFORE MUST USE MATERIAL THINGS.

Since our life consists of, touching , hearing, seeing , tasting and smelling our material environment -- in which we live-- IT IS BY THESE AVENUES THAT THE CREATOR MUST COME TO US. In the Sacrament of the Altar our Lord took the “Passover meal” of the Jews, transformed it, and gave it a NEW significance. He himself becomes the "outward and visible" sign in terms of our humanity-- of God's love and grace. In this meal we are joined to God and joined to one-another. WE are joined to the “great communion of saints”- past and present. WE are surrounded by that “great cloud of witnesses” of which St. Paul speaks. We are in the company of “Angels and Archangels”—and the unnamed “whole company of heaven.” AS we continue our ‘journey’ in this life—on our way to that “larger life” – where we will all join around that “great banquet table”----- let us be strengthened day by day, week after week – with this “foretaste” of that great banquet as we receive His most blessed Body and Blood.

In these last days of Holy Week we are invited to enter deeper into the “great Mystery”—the mystery of God’s love for us. WE participate in the glorious mystery of Christ’s perfect gift- the revelation of Divine Love in all its fullness—as Christ hands over to us, through his suffering and death and resurrection,—the gift of eternal life. Brothers and sisters—love. Love one another—and all people—as Christ has loved us. That we may be—truly—the Body of Christ for each other, and for the life of the world. For the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar--let us continually give thanks. AMEN