Holy Thursday and a rant

The Sacristy during Lent 

Today is Holy Thursday. Some call it Maundy Thursday in reference to Jesus' washing of his disciples feet. It is one of the most beautiful Liturgies in the church year. We begin the celebration of Jesus' last supper by remembering his unheard of act: kneeling down to wash his disciples feet. He did this to burn into their memories the idea that we are here to serve others, not to be served. To love each other unconditionally. 

There are some who are upset when the priest washes the feet of women during this Liturgy. They believe that because Jesus had only male disciples, only males should be used during this service. I believe that is a VERY short sited view of what Jesus was doing. Yes, he was preparing his disciples for life without him. But, he was also showing great love to them. He wanted them to go out into ALL the world and preach the gospel. He charged them to do so with love. By censuring who can have their feet washed we are limiting the message Jesus was presenting. 

I hope as we enter the Triduum this evening, the Three Days, that we can peel off the shell of this world we live in and immerse ourselves, our hearts, our minds and our actions in the love of Jesus. That we can better understand the sacrifice he made for us so that we can go out and live that sacrificial love in this world and with all we meet. No matter who they are.

What Jesus can do to us and for us is so well said in this passage from The Voyage of the Dawn Treader  by C.S. Lewis. If you've never read the story, this passage is told by Eustace,who was a terribly rotten boy who was turned into a dragon by his greed and meanness. Aslan, the Lion, helps him out of his skin.

Then the lion said, 'You will have to let me undress you.' I was afraid of the claws, I can tell you, but I was pretty nearly desperate now. So I just lay flat down on my back to let him do it. The very first tear he made was so deep that I thought it had gone right into my heart. And when he began pulling the skin off, it hurt worse than anything I've ever felt. The only thing that made me able to bear it was just the pleasure of feeling the stuff peel off. ... 'Well, he peeled the beastly stuff right off--just as I thought I'd done it mself the other three times, only they hadn't hurt--and there it was lying on the grass: only ever so much thicker, and darker, and more knobbly-looking than the others had been. And there was I as smooth and soft as a peeled switch and smaller than I had been. Then he caught hold of me--I didn't like that much for I was very tender underneath now that I'd no skin on--and threw me into the water. It smarted like anything but only for a moment. After that it became perfectly delicious and as soon as I started swimming and splashing I found that all the pain had gone from my arm. And then I saw why. I'd turned into a boy again.

May we be washed clean of all that dragon skin this Easter. It won't be easy, will it?

Happy Easter!

Holy Week was a busy blessing. I wish you all the Joy of the Easter Season!

age and wisdom

Happy Easter! Here in the north east we've been experiencing quite a change in weather. We had summery 80's for several days. I don't want to complain but it was just a little too hot, too fast. Everything is growing and blooming extra early so I worry about what that means for summer. We had a rain storm last night which cooled things off a bit. It feels more like April today but is to get into the 70's this weekend and I'm loving that!

I guess by the last paragraph which is all about the weather, you can tell I'm getting older. I also spent part of this evening walking through Lowe's with my hubby talking about refrigerators and ovens. Definitely getting older. Actually, I turned 40 this week. I've never been one to care a lot about birthdays and I still don't. I'm happy to be 40. I feel like the older I get the wiser I get (mostly). So I'm looking forward to more wisdom with each passing year.

I've been thinking a lot lately about our purposes in life. As my boys get older we talk more about their future in a tangible way. Only 4 years until Nathan is an adult. It's hard to believe. I wonder what they will be like as adults. About what my relationship will be with them in the future. I wonder how to help them discern what God is calling them to. It has taken me so long to realize my calling (or has the journey needed to be this long and circuitous?) that I wonder how to help them find a path. I guess we don't find our path, we look to God to show us the way to follow Him.

Ask and will receive, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened to you. This verse has held a lot of meaning for me of late. What I am realizing is that in seeking I have really needed to put forth a lot of effort. I used to think that verse meant that the Lord would place the answer on my doorstep just because I asked. Now I am discerning that I need to put forth some effort, too. Often in the effort of seeking I find something totally different than what I expected. It is often very much simpler as well. I've never found God to be that complicated, really.

I hope that if you are seeking this Easter season, you will put forth the effort in research and prayer and that Christ will lead you in the path in which you were meant to go.