Maundy Thursday

The Maundy Thursday Liturgy is one of endings and beginnings. What was begun on Ash Wednesday is brought to a close on this night. What begins this night does not end until the resurrection.

The liturgy opens with the sermon, which serves to bridge the ending of Lent and the beginning of the Triduum. The theme is love, our Savior's love for us, expressed in the washing of the disciples' feet, in giving himself in bread and wine, in dying upon the cross.

On Ash Wednesday, Lent began with a major act of confession and ashes, but without absolution. The last corporate confession of Lent is made on this night, with the long awaited absolution. As the ashes were individually given, so forgiveness is individually given with a laying of hands.

The lessons of love are followed by an example of love in the footwashing, Christ the Master serving the servant. A new command derives from it: "Love one another." From this new command (mandatum) comes the name for this night: Maundy Thursday.

The Lord's Supper continues the love theme with Christ's self-giving of his body and blood in the forms of bread and wine. Too soon, the love feast is ended, and the markings of betrayal are seen. The symbol of Christ in our midst, the altar, is stripped bare as Christ was stripped of his power and glory. The starkness of Good Friday and death is inescapable.

All depart in silence without benediction.

Other topics in the Handbook Of Lent:

• An Invitation to Lent 
• What Is Lent?
• The Discipline of Lent
  • Lent and Repentance
  • Lent and Prayer
  • Lent and Fasting
  • Lent and Works of Love
  • Lent and Beginning Your Discipline
  • Lent and Keeping Your Discipline
• Lent And How To Make the Sign of the Cross
• Lent and Confession: Should I Go to Confession?
• How to Go to Confession During Lent
  • from Martin Luther's Small Catechism
• Lent and The Tradition of the Stations of the Cross
• Lent and The Triduum - The Three Sacred Days
  • Lent and Maundy Thursday
  • Lent and Good Friday
  • Lent and The Great Vigil of Easter
• Lent and Blessings over Food at Easter

Source: The Rev. Thomas L. Weitzel - Evangelical Church in America

• Handbook For Lent - Maundy Thursday