Maundy, Meal, Mission

God’s grace, peace and mercy be with you. … My focus is the Gospel of Luke. … Let us pray. Heavenly Father, the psalmist wrote, “I rejoiced when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.’”[1] Now that our feet are within your gates, we rejoice to hear your Word. As we listen, may your Spirit enlighten our minds and move our hearts to love deeply as Jesus loved. This we pray to you, Most Holy Trinity. Amen.

Today, we observe Maundy Thursday. Our Gospel portrays the Last Supper. And when we leave here, we commence a mission. Three words for three points: Maundy, meal and mission.

First, Maundy. Growing up, we referred to this day as Holy Thursday. As boys, my brothers and I decorated Easter eggs. Under mom’s direction, we dipped hardboiled eggs into cups of PAAS© dyes. In the evening, we rode with dad to seven different churches, an ancient Roman custom.

Today has deep spiritual meaning for Christians in different denominations and cultures. Christians in India celebrate a statewide public holiday. In the Philippines, businesses close, and television and radio stations go off-air. Certain German states declare a holiday for public employees. In other countries, churches silence bells. Here, we will strip the altar and chancel to prepare for Good Friday.

We call today Maundy Thursday. Maundy from the Latin word mandatum meaning commandment. Mandatum refers to Jesus’ words from John’s Gospel: “Mandatum novum do vobis.”[2] In English: “A new commandment I give you.”[3] In today’s Gospel from Luke, we follow the Lord’s command to eat His Body and drink His Blood under the form of bread and wine. We observe and celebrate what occurred during the Last Supper. Hence, we move from Maundy to meal, my second point.

Jesus’ journey continues from Galilee’s villages to Jerusalem’s Temple.[4] Here, Jesus, who set his face towards Jerusalem, prepared to journey to God through the Passion, Resurrection and Ascension – the Paschal Mystery.

The account begins with two complementary units, which introduce the Last Supper. The first unit, verses 1-6, calls attention to the approaching feast of Passover, and focuses on the efforts of the chief priests, scribes and Judas to betray Jesus. Within the context of the Last Supper, Judas’ betrayal stood as a warning to future Christians.

Betrayal, persecution and internal struggles surface in the Christian community, manifesting Satan, the ultimate opponent of Jesus and the Church. While Luke outlined the plans and preparations of Satan and Jesus’ enemies, they were not alone in preparing for the feast. Jesus firmly controlled the events and commissioned Peter and John to prepare the Supper.

God firmly controlled the day’s events. God revealed His providence in His unfolding plan of salvation. Note that Luke wrote, “Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed.”[5] For Luke, the paschal lamb symbolized Jesus, and its sacrifice symbolized the necessity of His passion. The sacrifice of the lamb prepared those who shared in Jesus’ sacrificial meal to understand the nature of their own persecutions.

Luke showed how the Twelve joined Jesus in this meal so that Luke’s readers could ask themselves if their attitude and commitment reflected Christ’s. Only in this way could Christians confront their enemies and the power of darkness that permeated the hour of Jesus. For when his betrayer and enemies appeared to seize him, Jesus said, “When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.”[6]

The Last Supper was Jesus’ most significant meal for it was the only meal where Jesus identified the bread and wine as his very body and blood, and directed his disciples to repeat.[7]

Subsequent generations participating in the Lord’s Supper recognized that they benefited from Jesus’ broken bread and poured out wine.[8] When the power of darkness seemed to have its hour, Christians participating in this meal would recognize the firm control and open hospitality of a loving and saving God.

Today, Christians participating in this meal recognize the firm control and open hospitality of a loving and saving God. Hence, I move from meal to mission.

In some churches, a phrase above the doors reads, “You are now entering mission territory.” We derive mission from the Latin mittere. It means to send or dispatch.[9] The oldest dismissal in worship is the phrase, “Ite, missa est.”

Our dismissal comes after the pastor says, “The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen and preserve you in body and soul to life everlasting. Depart in peace.” Our custom, however, is to wait until after the final hymn. We exit the doors and enter mission territory.

As missionaries, we meet opportunities and enemies. Opportunities to share the Gospel and enemies opposed to it. We have opportunities to evangelize unbelievers and other believers, families and friends, colleagues, co-workers and the world. We have opportunities to share the Good News to Moslem and Buddhist, atheist and agnostic, the nondenominational and the nones. That’s the good news about sharing the Good News.

The bad news is that the Gospel has enemies. Its enemies are no longer Pharisees and Sadducees, stiff-necked scribes and ruthless rulers. Today, some Christians believe our enemies are Biblical inerrancy or syncretism, anti-intellectualism or apathy.[10] True, but St. Paul and Martin Luther concluded: The Gospel’s list of enemies includes me. To illustrate that point, allow me to reminisce once more.

In addition to coloring eggs and visiting churches on this day, another memory from 50 years ago is Cartoonist Walt Kelly’s comic strip, Pogo. Kelly combined sophisticated wit, slapstick comedy, poetry, puns and lushly detailed artwork.[11]

The most famous Pogo quote was "We have met the enemy and he is us." More than any line Kelly wrote, this summed up his attitude towards our foibles and human condition. "We have met the enemy and he is us."

On Maundy Thursday Pogo’s line reminds us that our mission to evangelize the world may seem insurmountable, but Luke’s Gospel reminds us that God is still in control.

As missionaries, we will encounter enemies and opponents of the Gospel, and often times, like Peter rebuking Jesus, we recognize that the greatest enemy of the Gospel is not Biblical inerrancy or syncretism, anti-intellectualism or apathy. Rather, there are times when I am the greatest enemy because I tell Jesus I will do it my way.

Folks, God’s enemies will not be defeated through bullets, borders or the ballot box, but through the power of Christ – the power of Christ’s Body and His Blood broken open and poured out for us at the Lord’s Supper is enough to defeat Satan, sin, death, the world and our selfish, sinful selves.

To cite Dr. Luther, the means of God’s grace suffice. Christ Body and Blood in the Lord’s Supper sufficed for the original Twelve and the Church of Luke. Today, the Sacrament suffices for us. We have no need of bullets or border security. We need only Christ’s Body and Blood.[12]

Friends, when the power of darkness seems to have its hour, when the power of darkness permeates the hour, recognize the firm control and open hospitality of a loving and saving God. Recognize that Christ’s Body and Blood broken apart and poured out at the Last Supper and on the Cross suffice for your salvation and for your mission work. With that, confront the Gospel’s opponents. For when you do, the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

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[1] Psalm 122

[2] John 13:34

[3] http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=Maundy+Thursday

[4] Eugene LaVerdiere, Luke. Wilmington, DE: Michael Glazier, Inc. (1986), 250ff.

[5] Luke 22:7

[6] Luke 22:53

[7] Arthur A Just, Luke 9:51-24:53. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House (1997), 829ff.

[8] Brendan Byrne, The Hospitality of God: A Reading of Luke’s Gospel. Collegeville, MN: The Liturgical Press (2000), 173.

[9] http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=mission

[10] http://bellatorchristi.com/2013/12/30/ten-great-challenges-facing-the-church-in-2014/

[11] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pogo_%28comic_strip%29

[12] http://cyclopedia.lcms.org/display.asp?t1=g&word=GRACE.MEANSOF

Pharisees, Fox, Fearless, Followers

Utter Pharisee and friends may think you mean their least favorite politician. Mention fox and people may think you mean a news channel. Say fearless and they will imagine a Taylor Swift song. Because few would match your words with our Gospel, allow me, fellow followers, a moment for each word: Pharisees who came to Jesus, Herod the fox, Fearless Jesus and His followers today.

First, Pharisees. During Jesus’ time, Palestinian Jews were not a united people. In their attitude to the law and the Temple, differences existed among them, compounded by varying political allegiances and intrigues. The first-century historian, Josephus, mentioned three ‘sects’ among the Jews: Pharisees, Sadducees and Essenes, and in Palestine, Samaritans.[1]

Pharisees were a political party, a social movement, and a school of thought in the Holy Land. After the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD, their beliefs became the foundational, liturgical and ritualistic basis for Judaism.[2]

The first mention of the Pharisees and their beliefs came in the four gospels and the book of Acts, where we find their meticulous adherence to their interpretation of the Torah as well as their view of salvation and the end time.

We derive Pharisee from the Ancient Greek meaning “set apart or separated.” Opponents dubbed them the “Separated Ones” because of their strict avoidance of Gentiles, unclean persons, sinners and Jews less observant of the Torah.

Now, the goal of all Jews was that Israel be a nation holy, sacred and dedicated to God. The Pharisees sought to achieve this by education, knowledge and a strict interpretation of the Torah. This attitude separated them from everyone else whom they considered rabble ignorant of the law.[3] Yet, because they were meticulous observers of the Law, this rabble viewed Pharisees as liberals.

We do not credit the Pharisees for being the most constructive force in Jewish spirituality. We base our negative view primarily on what we read in Matthew 23, where Jesus criticized them for their separatism.

Next, foxes. Foxes are small-to-medium-sized, omnivorous mammals that are pests because they attack rabbits, hens and small livestock.

Throughout Scripture, God’s people considered foxes pests and predators. In Nehemiah, we read, “Tobiah the Ammonite … said, ‘Yes, what they are building—if a fox goes up on it he will break down their stone wall!’”[4] Lost in translation is the fact that foxes and jackals infested ruined and desolate places on the mount and city of Zion.[5]

The Book of Lamentations ends with, “Mount Zion … lies desolate; jackals prowl over it.”[6] The Prophet Ezekiel cried, “O Israel, your prophets are like the foxes in the deserts.”[7] And Solomon sang, “Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin our vineyards that are in bloom.”[8]

The fox Jesus referenced in our Gospel was Herod Antipas, tetrarch of Galilee. Josephus described Herod as a crafty and incestuous prince. Our Lord saw him as one who prowled and ruined lives that were in bloom.

In Luke 3, we read that Herod locked John in prison because John admonished him for his illicit affair with his sister-in-law.[9]

After he beheaded John,[10] “Herod … heard about all that was happening, and he was perplexed, because it was said by some that John had been raised from the dead. … Herod said, ‘John I beheaded, but who is this about whom I hear such things?’ And he sought to see [Jesus].”[11]

“When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had long desired to see him, because he had heard about him, and he was hoping to see some sign done by him. So he questioned him at some length, but he made no answer. … Herod and his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him. Then, arraying him in splendid clothing, he sent him back to Pilate.”[12]

Herod the Tetrarch was an enemy of Jesus, but not the terrorist his father was. In today’s gospel Jesus was teaching about the coming upheaval where the “first will be last and the last will be first” when Pharisees interrupted to warn him to flee because Herod sought to kill him. 

An unusual moment between Jesus and the Pharisees because we think Jesus and the Pharisees were always at odds. After all, earlier in Luke, Jesus stated the Pharisees were full of greed and wickedness. Here, they seem to be genuinely concerned. Most likely, they were wishing Jesus would leave and stop attracting crowds.

Jesus responded as if they reported to Herod, and ordered them to tell that fox He was casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and would finish His work on the third day. I imagine Herod wanted to be referred to as a lion or a tiger for a fox is weak, sly and sneaky; but Jesus made it clear that the work of preaching the kingdom and healing the broken must culminate in Jerusalem and from that he will not retreat, for Jesus, unlike the Pharisees and the fox, was fearless.

Fearless, obviously means without fear. The words fear and experiment stem from the same Latin words meaning to try or press forward – as in experiment or trial. One who experimented or pressed forward was fearless.[13]

In Luke, Jesus pressed forward when, in 9:51, he “set his face toward Jerusalem.” As he traveled toward his ultimate fate, he preached, taught and healed. “Yet today, tomorrow and the next day,” the third day was always a foreshadowing in the gospels, just as we heard “on the third day there was a wedding at Cana of Galilee.”[14] Jesus told the Pharisees he would not leave. He would not be detoured, deterred or daunted. He would press forward to Jerusalem because they did not kill prophets outside the city.

It was almost as if saying the word “Jerusalem” broke Jesus’ heart. He sobbed a lament that echoed every prophet’s broken heart from Isaiah to Malachi, and then shared a tender image. “I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!”[15]

The image of God as a hen lays bare God’s vulnerability. The mother hen opens her wings wide and gathers as many as she can; but even a mother hen cannot make the chicks come in regardless of how open the invitation.[16]

Jesus called Herod a fox, and then imaged himself as mother hen. Even though 2000 years ago “fox in the henhouse” was not a common phrase, Luke’s readers, and we, get the message.

Jesus had disciples. Herod had soldiers. Jesus served. Herod ruled. Jesus prayed for his enemies. Herod killed his. In a contest between a fox and a chicken, whom would you bet on?[17] Jesus’ mission challenged the status quo, which is dangerous business[18] for the fearless and the follower.

Finally, follower. Some simple definitions of follower include someone who supports and is guided by another person or by a group or religion. A person who likes and admires (someone or something) very much or someone who does what other people say to do.[19]

We derive the noun follower from the verb follow. It means to accompany or move in the same direction. It also means to obey a rule or law, conform to, act in accordance with, or apply oneself to a practice, trade, or calling.[20]

Christians are followers. Leadership books, courses and summits aside, Christians are followers of the Way. The world knew Christians first as Followers of the Way because they followed Jesus who identified himself as the way.[21] In Acts 9, we read how Saul sought followers of the Way, those following in this way, or followed the way of Christ.[22]

After his conversion, Paul stated, “I persecuted the followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison. … I admit that I worship the God of our ancestors as a follower of the Way.[23]

Are you a follower of the Way? A follower of the Way of Christ? … Richard de Wych, better known as Richard of Chichester, wrote a prayer 800 years ago that reads:

Thanks be to Thee, my Lord Jesus Christ

For all the benefits Thou hast given me,

For all the pains and insults Thou hast borne for me.

O most merciful Redeemer, friend and brother,

May I know Thee more clearly,

Love Thee more dearly,

Follow Thee more nearly.[24]

Stephen Schwartz adapted and embellished Richard’s prayer into a song we know as Day by Day from Godspell.

Day by day, Day by day

Oh Dear Lord, three things I pray:

To see thee more clearly,

Love thee more dearly,

Follow thee more nearly,

Day by Day.[25]

Schwatrz’s song and Richard’s prayer came to mind as a result of a book of poetry I am reading for my Lenten meditation.[26] In a reflection on Simon of Cyrene, the author cites the verse, “They found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. They compelled this man to carry his cross.”[27] He then writes:

A new unforeseen encounter on the Way of the Cross.

He emerges out of nowhere, this complete stranger.

Chosen to be Jesus’ helper.

Compelled to be his companion.

Cut out of the multitude …

The soldiers force him to follow Jesus,

To be his follower and friend. …

Simon does not choose the cross.

It is already there.

Without a word,

He lifts it upon his shoulder. …

Grateful, Christ turns around

And lifts his gaze upon Simon.

He shows him the face of the Father.

Only God can look like that: up and back at a human being.

Jesus’ eyes rest upon him.

Just like the other day, with the searching young man.

He then cites Mark 10:21: “Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, ‘You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treaure in heaven; and come, follow me.’” The poem continues.

Perhaps Simon is this rich man

Who came back to follow him.

Perhaps it is not him.

In any case, Jesus takes time

To broaden any brief instant to unforgettable eternity.

Jesus looks back and calls him:

“Simon, do you really want to follow me?”

Carrying the cross, Simon will become Jesus’ closest friend.

Carrying the cross, Simon will become Christian. …

Then, reflecting on Simon Peter, and the parable of the father who asked his two sons to work the vineyard, the poem concludes.

I recognize both dynamics in me.

When everything goes fine,

I eagerly take up my cross. …

When everything goes wrong,

It is precisely my cross that becomes my love.

From now on, for the rest of his life,

Jesus will not walk alone.

Simon follows him, faithful and hidden.

Adopting his unlikely rhythm,

We will not hear from him anymore.

But he is there, in the shadow of his Lord.

Friends, this Lent, embrace the cross and follow Jesus. Whether you encounter Pharisees or foxes, stubborn people with the best intentions or vicious perpetrators with bloodthirsty tastes, embrace the cross like Simon and follow Jesus. Let his eyes rest upon you. And when they do, may the peace of God that surpasses all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.[28] Amen.

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[1] JBC - 1243

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharisees

[3] John 7:49

[4] Nehemiah 4:3

[5] http://biblehub.com/nehemiah/4-3.htm

[6] Lamentations 5:18

[7] Ezekiel 13;4

[8] Song of Solomon 2:15

[9] Luke 3:19-20

[10] Mark 6:21-28

[11] Luke 9:7-9

[12] Luke 23:8-11

[13] http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=fear

[14] John 2:1

[15] Luke 13:34

[16] http://www.fpcnyc.org/media/sermons-pdf/2007/070304.pdf

[17] http://www.fourthchurch.org/sermons/2001/040801.html

[18] http://www.nextsundayworship.com/february-21-2016/

[19] http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/follower

[20] http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?allowed_in_frame=0&search=follow

[21] John 14:6

[22] http://biblehub.com/acts/9-2.htm

[23] Acts 22:4, 14 NIV

[24] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_of_Chichester

[25] http://www.stlyrics.com/lyrics/godspell/daybyday.htm

[26] Bert Daelemans, An Ignatian Journey of the Cross: Exercises in Discernment. Liturgical Press, Collegeville, MN (2015), 32ff.

[27] Matthew 27:32

[28] Philippians 4:7