I have been attending a Confessional Lutheran Church for some time now, so I was familiar with most of the service. Confession (the congregation confessing together that we have sinned), Absolution (the pastor announcing forgiveness of sins), Confessing/reciting the Apostle's Creed, prayers for the congregation and praying the Lord's Prayer together, readings from the Old Testament, the New Testament, and the gospels, the sermon, songs of praise, and even Holy Communion.
But communion was different for me today. I was acutely aware that Jehovah's Witnesses held their "Memorial" on Tuesday, and that for 35 years I also mocked my Savior. For 35 years I refused the gift of His body and blood. But not this year. This year when the Lord's Supper was commemorated, I obeyed. I received Him.
Then after communion, the Lord's forgiveness still on my lips, tears still in my eyes... was the stripping of the altar. The candles were snuffed out. The wine was removed. No longer was the Bread of Life on the altar. And we read a Psalm together, as we usually do, but this time it was Psalm 22. The words of the Lord of Life as he died. The events of the night as he was crucified. For me. For you.
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, and am not silent. Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the praise of Israel. In you our fathers put their trust; they trusted and you delivered them. They cried to you and were saved; in you they trusted and were not disappointed. But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by men and despised by the people. All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads: "He trusts in the LORD; let the LORD rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him." Yet you brought me out of the womb; you made me trust in you even at my mother's breast. From birth I was cast upon you; from my mother's womb you have been my God. Do not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help. Many bulls surround me; strong bulls of Bashan encircle me. Roaring lions tearing their prey open their mouths wide against me. I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax; it has melted away within me. My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death. Dogs have surrounded me; a band of evil men has encircled me, they have pierced my hands and my feet. I can count all my bones; people stare and gloat over me. They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing. But you, O LORD, be not far off; O my Strength, come quickly to help me. Deliver my life from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dogs. Rescue me from the mouth of the lions; save me from the horns of the wild oxen. I will declare your name to my brothers; in the congregation I will praise you. You who fear the LORD, praise him! All you descendants of Jacob, honor him! Revere him, all you descendants of Israel! For he has not despised or disdained the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help. From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly; before those who fear you will I fulfill my vows. The poor will eat and be satisfied; they who seek the LORD will praise him-- may your hearts live forever! All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations will bow down before him, for dominion belongs to the LORD and he rules over the nations. All the rich of the earth will feast and worship; all who go down to the dust will kneel before him-- those who cannot keep themselves alive. Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the Lord. They will proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn-- for he has done it.
for more information on Maundy Thursday see http://www.orlutheran.com/html/holyweek.html
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