The Mandatum

Maundy Thursday, 2012

The name Maundy Thursday comes from the Latin Mandatum Novum, which means a new commandment. The New Testament records that Jesus gave his disciples several new commandments on the night before he died: to love one another (Jn. 13:34); to take bread and wine in remembrance of him (Mk. 14:22-25, Mt. 26:26-29, Lk. 22:13-20, 1 Cor. 11:23-24); and to wash one anothers feet in service (Jn. 13:14-15). The service of footwashing commemorates this last command of Jesus.

Confession of Sin
The Lord be with you. And also with you. Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor. All stand. A moment of silence is kept. Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen. Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us all our sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen us in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep us in eternal life. Amen. Let us pray. Almighty God our heavenly Father, you declare your glory and show forth your handiwork in the heavens and in the earth: Deliver us in our various occupations from the service of self alone, that we may do the work you give us to do in truth and beauty and for the common good; for the sake of him who came among us as one who serves, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The First Lesson

All may sit. A reading from Isaiah 42. But here is my servant, the one I uphold; my chosen, who brings me delight. Ive put my spirit upon him; will bring justice to the nations. He wont cry out or shout aloud or make his voice heard in public. He wont break a bruised reed; he wont extinguish a faint wick, but he will surely bring justice. He wont be extinguished or broken until he has established justice in the land. The coastlands await his teaching. God the LORD saysthe one who created the heavens, the one who stretched them out, the one who spread out the earth and its offspring, the one who gave breath to its people and life to those who walk on itI, the LORD, have called you for a good reason. I will grasp your hand and guard you, and give you as a covenant to the people, as a light to the nations, to open blind eyes, to lead the prisoners from prison, and those who sit in darkness from the dungeon. I am the LORD; that is my name; I dont hand out my glory to others or my praise to idols. The things announced in the pastlooktheyve already happened, but Im declaring new things. Before they even appear, I tell you about them. The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

The Psalm
All stand. Let us sing Psalm 116.

I love the LORD, because he has heard the voice of my supplication,* because he has inclined his ear to me whenever I called upon him. How shall I repay the LORD* for all the good things he has done for me? I will fulfill my vows to the LORD* in the presence of all his people. O LORD, I am your servant;* I am your servant and the child of your handmaid; you have freed me from my bonds. I will fulfill my vows to the LORD* in the presence of all his people, In the courts of the LORDS house,* in the midst of you, O Jerusalem. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:* As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

The Second Lesson

All may sit. Reader: A reading from Philippians 2. Dont do anything for selfish purposes but with humility think of others as better than yourselves. Instead of each person watching out for their own good, watch out for what is better for others. Adopt the attitude that was in Christ Jesus: Though he was in the form of God, he did not consider being equal with God something to exploit. But he emptied himself by taking the form of a slave and by becoming like human beings. When he found himself in the form of a human, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore, God highly honored him and gave him a name above all names, so that at the name of Jesus everyone in heaven, on earth, and under the earth might bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

The Gospel
All stand. Reader: A reading from John. Before the Festival of Passover, Jesus knew that his time had come to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them fully. Jesus and his disciples were sharing the evening meal. The devil had already provoked Judas, Simon Iscariots son, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew the Father had given everything into his hands and that he had come from God and was returning to God. So he got up from the table and took off his robes. Picking up a linen towel, he tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a washbasin and began to wash the disciples feet, drying them with the towel he was wearing. When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, Lord, are you going to wash my feet? Jesus replied, You dont understand what Im doing now, but you will understand later. No! Peter said. You will never wash my feet! Jesus replied, Unless I wash you, you wont have a place with me. Simon Peter said, Lord, not only my feet but also my hands and my head! Jesus responded, Those who have bathed need only to have their feet washed, because they are completely clean. You disciples are clean, but not every one of you. He knew who would betray him. Thats why he said, Not every one of you is clean. After he washed the disciples feet, he put on his robes and returned to his place at the table. He said to them, Do you know what Ive done for you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you speak correctly, because I am. If I, your Lord and teacher, have washed your feet, you too must wash each others feet. I have given you an example: just as I have done, you also must do. I assure you, servants arent greater than their master, nor are those who are sent greater than the one who sent them. Since you know these things, you will be happy if you do them. The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. All may sit. A period of silent reflection is observed. Let us sing the song of Christs humility. All stand.

Christ Jesus, being in the form of God, did not cling to his equality with God* But emptied himself, taking the form of a slave. Bearing the human likeness, revealed in human shape,* He humbled himself, in obedience accepting death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has raised him to the heights* And bestowed on him the name above all names, That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven, on earth, and in the depths* And every tongue confess to the glory of God the Father that Jesus Christ is Lord. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:* As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

All may sit.

The Invitation
Fellow servants of our Lord Jesus Christ: On the night before his death, Jesus set an example for his disciples by washing their feet, an act of humble service. He taught that strength and growth in the life of the Kingdom of God comes not by power, authority, or even miracles, but by such lowly service. We all must remember his example. Therefore, I invite you, who share in the royal priesthood of Christ, to come forward, that we may recall our own servanthood by following the example of our Master. Come remembering his admonition that what will be done for you is also to be done by you to others, because a servant is not greater than the master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sends. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. You are invited to approach a foot washing station. Once your feet are washed, wash the feet of the person who sits down next. After washing their feet, say: Just as I have done, you also must do. During the washing of the feet, we will sing the Magnificat:

Let us pray. All stand. Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial, and deliver us from evil. Amen.

All may sit. Heavenly Father, whose blessed Son came not to be served but to serve: Bless all of us who, following in his steps, give ourselves to the service of others; that with wisdom, patience, and courage, we may minister in his Name to the suffering, the friendless, and the needy; for the love of him who laid down his life for us, your Son our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Lord Jesus Christ, you stretched out your arms of love on the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come within the reach of your saving embrace: So clothe us in your Spirit that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you; for the honor of your Name. Amen. O Eternal God, bless all schools, colleges, and universities, especially Nyack College, that they may be lively centers for sound learning, new discovery, and the pursuit of wisdom; and grant that those who teach and those who learn may find you to be the source of all truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. How beautiful, O Lord, are the feet that proclaim the gospel. Make us ready to follow Christ: in word and action, in service and love, so that all the world may know the one we love and serve: Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen. Go in peace to love the Lord and serve the world. Thanks be to God.