Maundy thursday

went for Maundy Thursday service today. Pastor Bernard asked us if we actually knew what maundy thursday meant. and well.. to be honest, I DIDN'T KNOW! *gasp* to think ishould know that after 5 years being in the faith. i'm so blur. tsk. pastor did explain but i didn't really get him.. soooo i wiki-ed! =) i can't tell you how useful and informative this website is!! i love it!

here's what the search turned up:

In the Christian calendar, Holy Thursday — also called Maundy Thursday and, in the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Churches, Great Thursday — is the feast or holy day on the Thursday before Easter that commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the Apostles. It is followed by Good Friday.

On this day, four events are commemorated: the washing of the Disciples' feet by Jesus Christ, the institution of the Mystery of the Holy Eucharist at the Last Supper, the agony of Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane, and the betrayal of Christ by Judas Iscariot.

i'm enlightened (think illuminating lightbulb)

but this wasn't what struck me the most during service. it was the Stripping of The Church. This ancient practice of stripping the Lord's table and Sanctuary following communion is a vivid and dramatic way of showing the desolation and abandonment of the long night in Gethsmane and what followed.

when the pastors covered the cross with a black cloth and put on it, a crown of thorns, an involuntary gasp escaped from me. I found myself all choked up. I thought about the night and day that followed. How hard it must have been for Jesus, facing betrayal and the painful journey leading up to calvary. but what awaited at the end of it; at Golgotha was far worst and unfathomable. it was where the roman soldiers crucified Jesus. The pain, the agony, the torture. Three times He pleaded for the cup to be taken away.. the moments He endured when He was forsaken. i can't imagine all of that happening to me. i'd better off dead. but it's true isn;t it? Jesus had the power, He could've chosen to die there and then and not go through with this. yet, He chose to go on.

i've always questioned why was He so foolish to die for ME. someone He has't even met. but, He did it anyway, simply because .. He loves me. it's as simple as that. As irrational and totally naive as it may be. most non-christians think it's a super uber blind leap of faith to believe in Him, but that's what religions are all about right? it IS a leap of faith. But Christianity is certainly not about taking BLIND leaps. we know where we're going and we have the Bible to prove it. the teachings of Jesus that has trickled down generations after generations is hard-core evidence of His legacy still lives on today. the most foundation of civilization, whether you like it or not, is based on the 10 commandments. thou shalt not kill or commit adultry etc etc.. Best of all, the God whom we worship is a living God. He rose from the dead.

because of this unconditional love that Jesus gives to me, i feel guilt-ridden and so aweful sometimes. He doesn't expect much from us.. all we have to do is to spare a little bit of time each day, to listen to Him, through the bible or prayer. But that's obviously too difficult for us. most girls like me, would probably be more contented shopping around, satisfying our material wants or maybe watching TV, cable, Youtube. For guys, maybe it's the lure of ESPN; the live broadcast of soccer matches.

it's amazing how thick-skinned we, christians can be sometimes. Sure, we love; absolutely adore for Him to be around when we need him, in times of mourning or when we're having exams; or when we're saying desperate prayers to be able to flag the cab when we're running late. In these times, we plead like crazy. but once we've gotten what we wanted, it's back to those same old lives. sometimes, we don't even thank God for He has given to us. amazing how mean we can get. do we even practise common courtesy with God?

and He's done so much for us.

Are we worthy at all?

these were the thoughts that flooded my mind when the Church was being stripped. perhaps it's a timely reminder of what Jesus had sacrificed for us; for me.

all the promises that we've made to God, have we kept them? or left them empty and hanging precariously at the point of no return?

i know i'm not sitting on my bum no more. i'm gonna keep my promise.

Crucified laid behind the stone
You lived to die rejected and alone
Like a Rose trampled on the ground
You took the fall and thought of me
Above all

min*