words by Jan Richardson, photo by Ann McGovern, RSM
below is from Jan Richardson's blog: The Painted Prayerbook (from April 12, 2017)
Holy Thursday, and it is time to come to the table.
Here at the table, there is bread.
Here at the table, there is wine.
Here at the table, there is Christ, offering the gifts to us
with beautiful simplicity and astonishing love.
As we linger at the table, as we leave the table, what will we do with what we receive?
Blessing the Bread, the Cup For Holy Thursday
Let us bless the bread that gives itself to us with its terrible weight, its infinite grace.
Let us bless the cup poured out for us with a love that makes us anew.
Let us gather around these gifts simply given and deeply blessed.
And then let us go bearing the bread, carrying the cup, laying the table within a hungering world.
—Jan Richardson from Circle of Grace: A Book of Blessings for the Seasons
Music: Taize: By Night: https://youtu.be/YSTdw3Vth0A
By night we hasten in darkness
to seek for the living water.
Only our thirst lights us onward...
Only our thirst lights us onward...
Dear Donna and Linda...
Thank you! Thank you!
If I had to tear out of the Scripture for an emergency 'capture' of Jesus' teaching, it would John's Last Supper! Here... He is pouring out His Heart to His beloveds...He calls us His Friends! He shows us in the washing of the feet the meaning of authority and service, He speaks of Love, Peace, Union/Oneness, Abiding/the Trinity/the Divine Indwelling, the Comforter...and breaks the Bread as His Body and gives us the Cup as a sign of His presence with us always. Just reading 16-17 and taking in the profound content....of the message of this night... overtakes me like nothing else!
Happy, Beautiful Holy Thursday!!
Much love,
Elizabeth