Word for the Week & Seasonal Theme for Lent – (Maundy Thursday and Good Friday)

Word for the Week – Lent

Thursday, April 18 – Maundy Thursday, Year C

Introduction

With nightfall our Lenten observance comes to an end, and we gather with Christians around the world to celebrate the Three Days of Jesus’ death and resurrection. At the heart of the Maundy Thursday liturgy is Jesus’ commandment to love one another. As Jesus washed the feet of his disciples, we are called to follow his example as we humbly care for one another, especially the poor and the unloved. At the Lord’s table we remember Jesus’ sacrifice of his life, even as we are called to offer ourselves in love for the life of the world.

Prayer of the Day

Eternal God, in the sharing of a meal your Son established a new covenant for all people, and in the washing of feet he showed us the dignity of service. Grant that by the power of your Holy Spirit these signs of our life in faith may speak again to our hearts, feed our spirits, and refresh our bodies, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

First Reading: Exodus 12:1-4 [5-10] 11-14

Israel remembered its deliverance from slavery in Egypt by celebrating the festival of Passover. This festival featured the Passover lamb, whose blood was used as a sign to protect God’s people from the threat of death. The early church described the Lord’s supper using imagery from the Passover, especially in portraying Jesus as the lamb who delivers God’s people from sin and death.

Psalm: Exodus 12:1-4 [5-10] 11-14

Israel remembered its deliverance from slavery in Egypt by celebrating the festival of Passover. This festival featured the Passover lamb, whose blood was used as a sign to protect God’s people from the threat of death. The early church described the Lord’s supper using imagery from the Passover, especially in portraying Jesus as the lamb who delivers God’s people from sin and death.

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

In the bread and cup of the Lord’s supper, we experience intimate fellowship with Christ and with one another, because it involves his body given for us and the new covenant in his blood. Faithful participation in this meal is a living proclamation of Christ’s death until he comes in the future.

Gospel: John 13:1-17, 31b-35

The story of the last supper in John’s gospel recalls a remarkable event not mentioned elsewhere: Jesus performs the duty of a slave, washing the feet of his disciples and urging them to do the same for one another.

Friday, April 19, 2109 – Good Friday, Year C

Introduction

At the heart of the Good Friday liturgy is the passion according to John, which proclaims Jesus as a triumphant king who reigns from the cross. The ancient title for this day—the triumph of the cross—reminds us that the church gathers not to mourn this day but to celebrate Christ’s life-giving passion and to find strength and hope in the tree of life. In the ancient bidding prayer we offer petitions for all the world for whom Christ died. Today’s liturgy culminates in the Easter Vigil tomorrow evening.

Prayer of the Day

Almighty God, look with loving mercy on your family, for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to be betrayed, to be given over to the hands of sinners, and to suffer death on the cross; who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

First Reading: Isaiah 52:13–53:12

The fourth servant poem promises ultimate vindication for the servant, who made his life an offering for sin. The early church saw in the servant’s pouring himself out to death and being numbered with the transgressors important keys for understanding the death of Jesus.

Psalm: Psalm 22

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? (Ps. 22:1)

Second Reading: Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9

In his death Jesus functions as great high priest who experiences temptation and suffering in order that we would receive mercy and find grace, because he is the source of true salvation.

Gospel: John 18:1–19:42

On Good Friday, the story of Jesus’ passion—from his arrest to his burial—is read in its entirety from the Gospel of John. 

Theme for the season of Lent

Gather Us, Redeem Us, Anoint Us, Make Us New

God Gathers Us. We are gathered together by God as a holy community. We gather around the table, where we are fed with heavenly food. We gather around the font, where a splash of water washes us. We gather around the holy word, where we hear again and again God’s love for us.

God Redeems Us. We are redeemed by God’s love for us in Christ. Christ lived, died and rose again so we can become children of God. We are redeemed, pulled out of our selfish ways. We are forgiven and set free from the hold sin has on our lives.

God Anoints Us. In the bible, when a person was anointed, they were set aside for a special task or purpose. This was signified by being anointed with oil, it was poured on that person. In our baptisms, we are anointed, set aside for God’s purpose. We are anointed with the Holy Spirit, empowered and chosen by God to share God’s love.

God Makes Us New. We are made new in Christ. The apostle Paul writes that if anyone is in Christ, they are new creation. We are constantly made new through the forgiveness, grace and love Christ offers us. We are called by God to share this newness with the world. 

Gather Us, Redeem Us, Anoint Us, Make Us New – may this be our prayer this Lenten season, so we may show the world around us God’s never-failing love.