Thursdays with Jesus

A common tradition for Maundy Thursday in several parts of the world is to visit seven or fourteen churches on a pilgrimage, perhaps with fasting.

Even more (and increasingly) common is the practice of foot-washing.  This follows the mandate of our Lord to Love one another and his washing of his disciples' feet (recorded in John chapter 13).

In our Church we share Communion, our best symbolic expression of fellowship-love.

The day called Thursday has two Christian celebrations.  Some years of course it might be Christmas Day too but never mind that.  These two are about as opposite as can be imagined and every bit the equal of Good Friday and Easter Day in contrast.

This first Thursday - Maundy - is about intimacy; and the ominous shadow of descending into death.  The other Thursday is Ascension Day.  It is about parting; and about glorious ascension into heaven.

Yet things are, typically, not what they seem.

The ascension is about greater intimacy.  In heaven the glorified Christ intercedes for us. In the young Michael Bruce's memorable lines,

Though now ascended up on high,
he bends on earth a brother's eye;
partaker of the human name,
he knows the frailty of our frame.

Our fellow-sufferer yet retains
a fellow feeling of our pains;
and still remembers in the skies
his tears, his agonies and cries.

In every pang that rends the heart
the Man of Sorrows had a part;
he sympathises with our grief,
and to the sufferer sends relief.

The gift of the Holy Spirit, the fruit of Jesus's ascension, makes the intimacy of Maundy look decidedly minor - for God inhabits us now!  Those feet are part of His temple, not just his cleaning schedule.