Maundy Thursday
Right now, many people are anxious about being unable to attend their weekend Eucharist and are wondering where they might be able to watch Mass online.
There are many opportunities for this and the Catholic Parliamentary Office has helpfully produced a list.
For information about watching live streamed Masses please go here.
As we begin Holy Week, there will be further opportunities to watch streamed Masses, including those in our own archdiocese. The latest link can be found
here but watch out for further updates.
In addition to this, there are many opportunities for prayer during the week, including a daily video reflection provided by the archdiocese which can be found
here.
Here in the Cluster, we too would like to offer people some useful aids to prayer.
These are not liturgical services following the normal rubrics; rather they are prayer resources for people and their families which we hope they will find helpful and useful in recalling these important events in the life of every Christian.
These are not liturgical services following the normal rubrics; rather they are prayer resources for people and their families which we hope they will find helpful and useful in recalling these important events in the life of every Christian.
We value your feedback so please tell us what you found helpful and ways in which we might be able to improve.
We would be particularly interested to hear your thoughts about the gospel passage, no matter how short - and sweet!
Simply reply to our email address:
southedclust@btinternet.com
Let us pray
As we become conscious of the presence of God in our lives, so we find ourselves in prayer...
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The readings for Maundy Thursday follow:
Exodus 12: 1-8; 11-14 Instructions concerning the Passover Meal
Yahweh said to Moses and Aaron in Egypt, 'This month must be the first of all the months for you, the first month of your year. Speak to the whole community of Israel and say, "On the tenth day of this month each man must take an animal from the flock for his family: one animal for each household.
If the household is too small for the animal, he must join with his neighbour nearest to his house, depending on the number of persons. When you choose the animal, you will take into account what each can eat. It must be an animal without blemish, a male one year old; you may choose it either from the sheep or from the goats. You must keep it till the fourteenth day of the month when the whole assembly of the community of Israel will slaughter it at twilight. Some of the blood must then be taken and put on both door-posts and the lintel of the houses where it is eaten. That night, the flesh must be eaten, roasted over the fire; it must be eaten with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.
If the household is too small for the animal, he must join with his neighbour nearest to his house, depending on the number of persons. When you choose the animal, you will take into account what each can eat. It must be an animal without blemish, a male one year old; you may choose it either from the sheep or from the goats. You must keep it till the fourteenth day of the month when the whole assembly of the community of Israel will slaughter it at twilight. Some of the blood must then be taken and put on both door-posts and the lintel of the houses where it is eaten. That night, the flesh must be eaten, roasted over the fire; it must be eaten with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.
This is how you must eat it: with a belt round your waist, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. You must eat it hurriedly: it is a Passover in Yahweh's honour. That night, I shall go through Egypt and strike down all the first-born in Egypt, man and beast alike, and shall execute justice on all the gods of Egypt, I, Yahweh!
The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are. When I see the blood I shall pass over you, and you will escape the destructive plague when I strike Egypt. This day must be commemorated by you, and you must keep it as a feast in Yahweh's honour. You must keep it as a feast-day for all generations; this is a decree for all time.
The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are. When I see the blood I shall pass over you, and you will escape the destructive plague when I strike Egypt. This day must be commemorated by you, and you must keep it as a feast in Yahweh's honour. You must keep it as a feast-day for all generations; this is a decree for all time.
The Word of the Lord
1 Corinthians 11: 23-26 Every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are proclaiming the death of the Lord
For the tradition I received from the Lord and also handed on to you is that on the night he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread, and after he had given thanks, he broke it, and he said,
'This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.'
And in the same way, with the cup after supper, saying,
And in the same way, with the cup after supper, saying,
'This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Whenever you drink it, do this as a memorial of me.'
Whenever you eat this bread, then, and drink this cup, you are proclaiming the Lord's death until he comes.
Whenever you eat this bread, then, and drink this cup, you are proclaiming the Lord's death until he comes.
The Word of the Lord
John 13: 1-15 Now he showed how perfect his love was
Before the festival of the Passover, Jesus, knowing that his hour had come to pass from this world to the Father, having loved those who were his in the world, loved them to the end. They were at supper, and the devil had already put it into the mind of Judas Iscariot son of Simon, to betray him.
Jesus knew that the Father had put everything into his hands, and that he had come from God and was returning to God, and he got up from table, removed his outer garments and, taking a towel, wrapped it round his waist; he then poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel he was wearing.
He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, 'Lord, are you going to wash my feet?'
Jesus answered, 'At the moment you do not know what I am doing, but later you will understand.'
'Never!' said Peter. 'You shall never wash my feet.' Jesus replied, 'If I do not wash you, you can have no share with me.' Simon Peter said, 'Well then, Lord, not only my feet, but my hands and my head as well!'
Jesus said, 'No one who has had a bath needs washing, such a person is clean all over. You too are clean, though not all of you are.' He knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said, 'though not all of you are'.
When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments again he went back to the table. 'Do you understand', he said, 'what I have done to you? You call me Master and Lord, and rightly; so I am. If I, then, the Lord and Master, have washed your feet, you must wash each other's feet. I have given you an example so that you may copy what I have done to you.
Jesus answered, 'At the moment you do not know what I am doing, but later you will understand.'
'Never!' said Peter. 'You shall never wash my feet.' Jesus replied, 'If I do not wash you, you can have no share with me.' Simon Peter said, 'Well then, Lord, not only my feet, but my hands and my head as well!'
Jesus said, 'No one who has had a bath needs washing, such a person is clean all over. You too are clean, though not all of you are.' He knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said, 'though not all of you are'.
When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments again he went back to the table. 'Do you understand', he said, 'what I have done to you? You call me Master and Lord, and rightly; so I am. If I, then, the Lord and Master, have washed your feet, you must wash each other's feet. I have given you an example so that you may copy what I have done to you.
The Gospel of the Lord
Reflection time.
The gospel reflection mentions four themes: Remembering; Betrayal; Service and Communion.
Questions.
Remembering. I invite you now to close your eyes and recall a happy memory of a loved one who is no longer alive or who is not physically present right now. Try to recall as much of the sights, sounds, taste, touch and smell of the event. Relive the joy of that memory and allow your feelings freedom.
- Now thank God for the life of that person.
- Thank God for the memory born from that person.
- Thank God for sending Jesus and for leaving us a means of remembering him.
- Bring your wounded heart before the Lord and all the bitterness of personal betrayal.
- Ask for the grace and strength to put these aside - even if just for the rest of this day.
- Ask for (and know you will be given) forgiveness for the times when you have betrayed or let others down.
- Thank God for all the key workers and for all the many others who are keeping in contact with people and making sure they do not feel alone and abandoned.
- Try to remember to show your appreciation of all key workers by standing in your doorway/window at 8pm on Thursday evenings and clapping.
- Let yourself be silent and at peace for several minutes. See yourself as one small cell in the Body of Christ and think what gifts you can bring to make that Body alive and well.
- Maybe get into the habit of waking each morning with the thought: "Jesus is with me in all I do and say".
Prayers of Intercession Maundy Thursday
On this night, our Lord Jesus Christ washed his disciples feet.
We commit ourselves to follow His example of love and service.
We ask for an outpouring of love for all those serving the vulnerable and sick during the Corona Virus outbreak.
Lord, hear us.
On this night, he prayed for his disciples to be one.
We pray for the unity of all Christian Churches.
May we tirelessly seek new ways to share our faith with one another.
Lord, hear us.
On this night, he prayed for those who were to believe through the disciples’ message.
We pray for the courage to be missionary disciples
On this night, our Lord Jesus Christ washed his disciples feet.
We commit ourselves to follow His example of love and service.
We ask for an outpouring of love for all those serving the vulnerable and sick during the Corona Virus outbreak.
Lord, hear us.
On this night, he prayed for his disciples to be one.
We pray for the unity of all Christian Churches.
May we tirelessly seek new ways to share our faith with one another.
Lord, hear us.
On this night, he prayed for those who were to believe through the disciples’ message.
We pray for the courage to be missionary disciples
and share God’s message of love and service in our lives.
Lord, hear us.
On this night, he gave us the Eucharist.
We pray for success in the fight against the Corona Virus outbreak,
that we will be able to share the gift of Eucharist again soon.
Lord, hear us.
On this night, he commanded them to love,
But suffered rejection himself.
We pray for all who are unwell, rejected or suffering.
Lord, hear us.
On this night, he gave us the Eucharist.
We pray for success in the fight against the Corona Virus outbreak,
that we will be able to share the gift of Eucharist again soon.
Lord, hear us.
On this night, he commanded them to love,
But suffered rejection himself.
We pray for all who are unwell, rejected or suffering.
We especially pray for all people and families affected by the Corona Virus.
May they be given the love, strength and grace they need in their lives.
Lord, hear us.
On this night, he laid down his life for us.
We pray all who have died, that they may take up the new life of his resurrection.
Lord, hear us.
May they be given the love, strength and grace they need in their lives.
Lord, hear us.
On this night, he laid down his life for us.
We pray all who have died, that they may take up the new life of his resurrection.
Lord, hear us.
Let us call to mind our own intentions at this time...
Closing Prayer.
"Behold I stand at the door and knock (Revelation 3 v20
Lord continue to bless our community
in this time of transition.
Help us on our journey
to grow from a maintenance church
to a missionary church.
Give us the courage
to be missionary disciples.
Make our doors wide enough
to receive all who need
human love and fellowship;
narrow enough to shut out
all envy, pride and prejudice.
Kindle in us the fire of your love
that all who come here
will find joy, peace and love.
Make this a house of prayer
and a gateway to your kingdom.
AMEN
in this time of transition.
Help us on our journey
to grow from a maintenance church
to a missionary church.
Give us the courage
to be missionary disciples.
Make our doors wide enough
to receive all who need
human love and fellowship;
narrow enough to shut out
all envy, pride and prejudice.
Kindle in us the fire of your love
that all who come here
will find joy, peace and love.
Make this a house of prayer
and a gateway to your kingdom.
AMEN
