Practicing Resurrection: Living out the New Commandment of Maundy Thursday

Each year on Maundy Thursday, the day before Good Friday in Holy Week, we pause to remember the "New Commandment" given to us at the Lord's Supper. "...the English word Maundy in that name for the day is derived through Middle English, and Old French mandé, from the Latin mandatum, the first word of the phrase "Mandatum novum do vobis ut diligatis invicem sicut dilexi vos" ("A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you"), the statement by Jesus in the Gospel of John (13:34) by which Jesus explained to the Apostles the significance of his action of washing their feet."(Wikipedia)

We participate in a foot-washing ceremony at home.

Husband following Christ's example in an act of humble service:

"If I then your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do just as I have done to you...If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them" (John 13:14-17)

By practicing this rite in the domestic church, we allow the children a chance to participate as children.

Sticking dirty feet into the air,

 

 getting up close to watch it done

We are knitted together in new commandment. Father loving and serving children.

Children basking in the glow of Daddy's love and understanding more of the Father's love.




We partake of the Agape Meal, a simple dish with Bread and Wine, remembering on this night Christ gives us a new way:

As Christians we no longer eat the Passover Lamb on this night but now feed on His Body and His Blood. As Paul wrote, "Christ our Passover, was sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast" (I Cor. 5:7). St. Athanasius in his Easter tetter of 332 A.D. writes,

"Now the pictures and shadows and types have all been fulfilled and accomplished. So we, dear brothers and sisters, should no longer consider the Feast a figurative one. We do not go up to the earthly city of Jerusalem to sacrifice the Passover. That ancient Jewish practice is no longer suitable. If we followed their practice, we would be celebrating the Easter season inappropriately...Since our Savior was making the change from the type of shadow to the spiritual reality, He gave them the New Covenant promise. That is, He promised them that they would not eat the flesh of a lamb anymore, but His own: 'Take, eat and drink; this is My body and and My blood' (Matthew 26:26-28)." (The Resurrection Letters of St. Athanasius)

And so now that we have entered the church season of Easter we seek to live out this "new commandment" in the power of this "new covenant" by all that was accomplished on the cross and by the resurrection of our Lord.

What are the disciplines of this Easter Season of fifty days? Though there are many ways to answer this question, Maundy Thursday answers

A Family Loving and Serving. Feasting and Celebrating.
Not in mere picture, shadow, or memory but a new spiritual reality.

"From that day [Easter], until Pentecost we keep holy day through seven weeks, one after the other. As we set our minds properly on all that this season means, we will be prepared for the eternal realities behind them." (The Resurrection Letters of St. Athanasius)

May we all come to know these eternal realities more this Easter Season!
Amy

Holy Week!

Hello! I wanted to pop in quickly to wish you a blessed Holy Week. I've decided to do an internet fast for the rest of the week to prepare my heart for Easter. I was also encouraged during Adult Sunday School yesterday to consider how I can walk a Sabbatical Pace and I've realized that many of the moments I could rest in my day, I hop on the computer. My goal is also to realize the effects that technology has in my life. I love blogging--it is good to walk with you all through the church year and I appreciate your comments and emails so I hope to return with fresh ideas and the proper balance next week. We'll see what God has in store.

Might I also ask for your prayers for our family this week? Our 5 yr old daughter is having a difficult time getting over her bronchitis and has what seems to be complete hearing loss in her left ear. This has really impacted her ability to hear at all and has been scary and frustrating for her. We are praying that there is no permanent damage and her hearing will return when the fluid clears and that this would be soon! She was so encouraged yesterday at church when she was prayed for so if you want to drop her line in the comments that you are praying for her, my husband will read them to her and I think it would bless her very much. Thank you!!!

I had hoped to write a series of posts on living Holy Week as a family, but I will just need to set up links.  year!

--Easter Planning. 
My goal this year is to get all shopping and cleaning done by Wednesday!

--Family Devotions during Holy Week:  We use this cross with felt pieces for devotionals this week that I received at a great discount from a friend; it also comes with Scripture Readings, explanations, and discussion questions. But Ann at Holy Experience also has beautiful printables and devotional series at her blog!

Next year I'd love to do this Easter Garden from Holy Experience

--Wednesday of Holy Week: A Tenebrae service at home: 

"A Tenebrae Service is a Medieval tradition during Holy Week; ‘tenebrae’ is Latin for shadows. The symbolism of the light being extinguished begins a more somber and meditative time leading up to Easter. It is very powerful in a church but I've found the intimacy of your own home is just as dramatic."

--Maundy Thursday in the Home: 

"The name is derived from the Latin novum mandatum, the new commandment that Christ gives us : "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another" (John 13:34).

And what a radical new way Christ brings. Christ takes the traditional passover rites and institutes a new way in the foot washing and the Lord's Supper.

Foot Washing has been a very moving observance for me both when we celebrated in the church and at home. When we celebrated at at home we followed the second--my husband washing all of our feet. I was always surprised that though they were babies when we started they always participated in silence and awe."

--Good Friday: The Way of the Cross

•        Links from Kerry at A Ten O'Clock Scholar on how to do the Stations of the Cross with children, including print outs and coloring pages!
•        My Series on the Way of the Cross with artist Anna Kocher

--An Easter Menu with recipes. We love the Italian Easter Meat Pie and Pepperoni Bread, especially after giving up meat for 40 days!

--Easter Season:
Practice Resurrection!and Story-Formed's list.
Celebrating Easter's 50 days as a family

For our Easter Journey we will be Celebrating the Easter Season with 50 activities for with Tomie de Paola's:

Garden of the Good Shepherd: A Sticker Album to Count the 50 Days. I bought my book from this site for $6 +shipping. It arrived quickly!! But Waltzing Matilda also has free printables for those who cannot order the sticker book in time!


All activities and recipes can be found at Shower of Roses Garden Party and Waltzing Matilda. She has plans for doing activities daily or for a once a week party!

I hope to be back next Monday to share ideas on how to live Easter Season for 50 days, not just one!!

Blessings!

Palm Sunday Fears and our Need for Easter

Palm Sunday Reflection 2010

However our Lenten Journey goes, it always leads us to the cross. And though the 40 days grow long, it is on Palm Sunday that we pause with proclamations of Hosanna to be renewed as we enter into the final days before we remember the crucifixion and resurrection. I wasn’t always comfortable with this pause or the proclamation.

Growing up, I never enjoyed Palm Sunday—it seemed a sham. Why were we joining with those who in ages past were the first to shout Hosanna and then turn so quickly to shout, Crucify Him? But now I see that though I do not join in their shouting, I know what it is to have a fickle heart.

A heart gluttonous in the midst of fasting.

A heart doubtful in the season of prayer.

A heart miserly in the time of alms-giving.

A heart loud in the stillness waiting for God.

A heart divided.

But rather than give up on the spiritual disciplines of Lent, this is the very reason we enter into these practices. In our struggle, we allow the Spirit to convict and understand our need for His Death and Resurrection anew. We remember it is His Grace that saves and through this stumbling, we grow.

My Palm Sunday fears of hypocrisy dissipated when I learned of the church’s beautiful tradition for the palm branches used on this day.  Beginning in the twelfth century, the palm branches from this service are burned to be used as the ashes for imposition the first day of Lent, Ash Wednesday.   On Ash Wednesday we are invited to enter into a Holy Lent, with the reminder of our mortality and sin, but also of our attempts to praise Him crossed on our foreheads.

All we offer is but ash. It is His Grace which turns it into Praise.

And so to should we remember the meaning of this word “Hosanna.” Yes, it is used as a shout of praise, but the original meaning is “Save us, please,” implying our great need.

Therefore this Sunday, it will be with joy that I, broken yet redeemed, will lift my palm branch high with those around me and join in the shout: Hosanna, Hosanna, Praise to the King of Kings. Hosanna, Hosanna, Save us, please.

For those Celebrating at Home:

The Scripture:

The Liturgy of the Palms
Luke 19:28-40
Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29
The Liturgy of the Word
Isaiah 50:4-9a
Psalm 31:9-16
Philippians 2:5-11
Luke 22:14-23:56 or Luke 23:1-49

For a deeper understanding of the significance of Christ's entry into Jerusalem, it is helpful to walk through the Old Testament Scriptures as well.

The Collect: Almighty and everliving God, in your tender love for the human race you sent your Son our Savior Jesus Christ to take upon him our nature, and to suffer death upon the cross, giving us the example of his great humility: Mercifully grant that we may walk in the way of his suffering, and also share in his resurrection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Resources:

Sermons, Art, Hymns, and more

For Children

A Coloring Page

Traditional Food

 Our Celebration in 2007:

We look forward to a special meal with friends this Sunday too!

Amy

St. Patrick's Day: The happy day when troubles we had not!

We had a fun day dedicated to St. Patrick and the Irish!

With the delicious colcannon and other Irish-inspired treats, we join the Irish in singing:

"Oh, wasn't it the happy days when troubles we had not,


and our mothers made Colcannon in the little skillet pot?"

It was hard to tell if RJ or the baby loved it best--they both gobbled it up!

The Clover Hunt:

 

Lunch was Shamrock sandwiches and green veggies:

Storytime with Dad:

We made Shamrock Junior Mint Cupcakes 

(Inspired from here and here.)

 

(We started the green beverages early.)

Miss G placing Junior Mints in the center of the unbaked cupcakes:

 

Mr. M sorting the green m&ms and gumdrops:

 

The Irish Soda Bread before baking:

The Colcannon, we join in singing its praises:

 

Did you ever eat Colcannon, made from


lovely pickled cream? With the greens and scallions mingled like a


picture in a dream. Did you ever make a hole on top to


hold the melting flake of the creamy, flavoured butter that your


mother used to make?


Yes you did, so you did, so did he and so did I.


And the more I think about it sure the nearer I'm to cry.


Oh, wasn't it the happy days when troubles we had not,


and our mothers made Colcannon in the little skillet pot.  

Celebrating St. Patrick's Day

The Collect:

Almighty God, in your providence you chose your servant Patrick to be the apostle of the Irish people, to bring those who were wandering in darkness and error to the true light and knowledge of you: Grant us so to walk in that light that we may come at last to the light of everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Scriptures:
1 Thessalonians 2:2b-12Matthew 28:16-20Psalm 97:1-2,7-12 orPsalm 96:1-7 

His Life:
An online source that includes Patrick's biography along with the words his Lorica or St. Patrick's Breastplate.


Our Menu, recipes below:
Shepherd's Pie
Colcannon
Irish Soda Bread

Serving Colcannon. Our St. Patrick's Day Feast in 2007 back when we lived in WI.

Activities:

• Use this day to discuss the Trinity with your children using a shamrock plant, as St. Patrick is reported to have done.
• Make 3 leaf clovers and discuss how Patrick used them to teach about the Trinity. Here is a sample craft. 
• Go on a clover hunt if they are growing in your area.
• For your little ones, have them hold and move the clover as you sing St. Patrick's Breastplate.
• Make breastplates. We designed ours with snakes and cross. The Cross and Clover images we used to color our shield and breastplate.

 Miss G in 2007!

• Tell stories and legends of St. Patrick. We focus on his evangelism, his bravery and his devotion which can be learned from his own writings.
•  Here are more coloring pages, books, and cooking fun

The Picture Books:

We are able to find Saint Patrick by Ann Tompert at the library; it focuses on the known events of his life rather than the legends. Last year my son was enthralled with the story of a hero. When we read about the Irish pirates looting and then kidnapping Patrick, he jumped down and acted it out. The Tompert book really brought the story to life and expressed Patrick's conversion and reliance on God so well.




But I wish we were able to find:

The Story of St. Patrick by James A. Janda



Patrick: Saint of Ireland by Joyce Denham




Patrick: Patron Saint of Ireland by Tomie DePaola





Recipes:

Colcannon

INGREDIENTS

·     2 1/2 pounds potatoes, peeled and cubed

·     4 slices bacon

·     1/2 small head cabbage, chopped

·     1 large onion, chopped

·     1/2 cup milk

·     salt and pepper to taste

·     1/4 cup butter, melted

DIRECTIONS

1.   Place potatoes in a saucepan with enough water to cover. Bring to a boil, and cook for 15 to 20 minutes, until tender.

2.   Place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium high heat until evenly brown. Drain, reserving drippings, crumble and set aside. In the reserved drippings, saute the cabbage and onion until soft and translucent. Putting a lid on the pan helps the vegetables cook faster.

3.   Drain the cooked potatoes, mash with milk and season with salt and pepper. Fold in the bacon, cabbage, and onions, then transfer the mixture to a large serving bowl. Make a well in the center, and pour in the melted butter. Serve immediately.

Irish Soda Bread

INGREDIENTS

·     4 cups all-purpose flour

·     4 tablespoons white sugar

·     1 teaspoon baking soda

·     1 tablespoon baking powder

·     1/2 teaspoon salt

·     1/2 cup margarine, softened

·     1 cup buttermilk

·     1 egg

·     1/4 cup butter, melted

·     1/4 cup buttermilk

DIRECTIONS

1.   Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease a large baking sheet.

2.   In a large bowl, mix together flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt and margarine. Stir in 1 cup of buttermilk and egg. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead slightly. Form dough into a round and place on prepared baking sheet. In a small bowl, combine melted butter with 1/4 cup buttermilk; brush loaf with this mixture. Use a sharp knife to cut an 'X' into the top of the loaf.

3.   Bake in preheated oven for 45 to 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean, about 30 to 50 minutes. You may continue to brush the loaf with the butter mixture while it bakes. 

My Mom's Shepherd Pie.

1 ½ lb. Meatloaf Mix (beef, pork and veal)
3 tsp. Greek Seasoning (recipe below)
2 8 oz. cans Tomato Sauce
10 oz. Peas and Carrots, thawed
Mashed Potatoes for 6 – Ore Ida frozen are ideal/ prepare as directed
Greek Seasoning
2 t. salt
2 t. oregano
1 ½ t. onion powder
1 ½ t. garlic powder
1 t. cornstarch
1 t. pepper
1 t. beef bouillon
1 t. parsley flakes
½ t. cinnamon
½ t. nutmeg
Mix and set aside 3 t. for recipe
1. Brown meat in skillet. Add 2 t. Greek Seasoning,
tomato sauce and peas and carrots. Simmer 5 – 10 min.
2. Pour into 13 x 9 pan and top with Mashed Potatoes.
3. Sprinkle with 1 t. Seasoning and broil until potatoes
are browned.

St. Patrick's Breastplate

My Lenten practices have done much to reveal my need for God's daily grace in my life. I cannot do these disciplines on my own and they only serve to show the deeper sins within. And so this week, I pray the words penned by St. Patrick over 1500 years ago:

"I arise today

    Through God's strength to pilot me:

    God's might to uphold me,

    God's wisdom to guide me,

    God's eye to look before me,

    God's ear to hear me,

    God's word to speak to me,

    God's hand to guard me,

    God's way to lie before me,

    God's shield to protect me,

    God's host to save me...

Christ be with me, Christ within me,

         Christ behind me, Christ before me,

      Christ beside me, Christ to win me,

         Christ to comfort and restore me,

      Christ beneath me, Christ above me,

         Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,

      Christ in hearts of all that love me,

         Christ in mouth of friend and stranger."

Read the whole thing and more about St. Patrick's life here.

Listen to this version:

Living in a Catholic Town

I've written before about why I love living in our little Catholic town but I realized yesterday how it helps with living the church year too!



We can ride our bikes for fresh pastries and breads to celebrate St. Joseph and St. Patrick:

Yummy St. Joseph's Cakes for the 19th

Irish Potatoes and Soda Bread for the 17th

Seriously Good

We can pick up Lenten Specials at the Italian Market:

 the photo didn't quite pick up the yellow sign which reads 

"Now in for Lent: Clams, Mussels, Flounder"

And stop for a little Holy Clutter on the way home:

There will also be 100s of people in procession behind a large wooden cross, many in full costume, down this main street on Good Friday!

Why we fast.

As I seek to learn more about Lenten traditions, I’ve come across quite a few people who disparage the giving up of food for Lent. It’s not enough, they proclaim. Chocolate? Coffee?  Dessert? A Meal?

Paltry. Do something big for God.

To an extent they’re right. These small sacrifices are, indeed, small. They pale in comparison to Christ’s glorious suffering on our behalf.

But the bemoaners of the ascetic fast make me wonder if they’ve ever really tried it.

Yes, giving up something like dessert when you don’t really have issues with dessert probably is paltry. I agree wholeheartedly with the advice Matt Kennedy gives on what to do for Lent, “In other words, your Lenten discipline should not be arbitrary. If you have a problem with lust, don’t give up chocolate. Give up whatever it is that leads you into lustful behavior. And don’t just give it up for Lent, use Lent to give it up forever. Let the Lord know that you are committed to turning from the sin he has shown you and then ask him to help you in your task though the power of his Holy Spirit.”

But personally, every Lent when I have chosen something related to eating and drinking for the Fast, it has hit me right where it hurts.  When I remove one of those little comforts, those easy over-the-counter panaceas, it doesn’t take long for my sin to flare. While I wouldn’t usually say I have a problem with anger, impatience, or bitterness, take away my morning coffee, (or X, Y or Z) and I do.

This leads me to justify my misbehavior:

These sins aren’t real, I’m the victim of my circumstances.

At other times, I begin the mental gymnastic:

Coffee, chocolate, dessert, whatever it may be…, these are gifts from God, He knows I’m weak that’s why He created these things, why am I taking it  upon myself to question this?!

But in the silence of Lent, I hear His Voice:

Pray. Be still. Take up your Cross. Follow Me.

I am led to remember His Life as recorded in the Gospels:

His forty days of prayer and fasting. His times alone for prayer.  And I know I am called to follow at all costs.

The conviction of Scripture begins to speak to my quick and shrill tongue:

“You, Amy, are one of the brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”  (Matthew 12:34).

And I am humbled when I usually would have reached for… another cup of coffee, leftovers from the fridge, my hidden stash of chocolate.

The arguments stop. I give in. I’m weak. I’m a sinner. I need His Grace. I learn again that I can’t do Lent in my own strength. It seems that if I want to do the Big Things, I need to get a hold of the small things first. And the tradition has seen that it is through our stomachs, we can quickly get to our hearts.

I wrote at the beginning of Lent of my longing to be covered in the whiteness of an undivided heart (Psalm 86:11) just as the snow had blanketed our little street and our little home with a unity and cleanness.

 

But one week into Lent and I already know, that in that initial request, I didn’t see my real need. What I wanted then, was a quick cure for sin, instant sanctification.

One week into Lent, giving up those easy comforts, attempting more time in silence and prayer, and the sin bleeds dark from beneath that white covering. 

 

And so, I disagree when I hear on Ash Wednesday a local preacher (not from my home church), “Fasting makes me cranky, so I don’t do it.” There is a reason the Church has fasted from food during Lent—that crankiness might be the very reason.

We are human, dependent and finite. In Lent we don’t just hear the words “You are dust and to dust you will return,” we enter into practices which make that truth inescapable.  And we are then faced with a choice, in our dependency and finitude will we feed on the Bread of Life and Drink of the Everlasting Water or will we placate our sins by running off to do the Big Things? “Fasting reminds us that we are sustained “by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). Food does not sustain us. God sustains us…Therefore, in experiences of fasting we are not so much abstaining from food as we are feasting on the word of God. Fasting is feasting.” (Foster p. 55)

I want to do BIG THINGS for God. But, so far, He’s only asked me to take lessons in the School of Nazareth, the world of the small. And He is teaching me that I need to rethink what it means to serve Him as John Milton writes in the poem where he questions how will He do God’s work now that he is blind and receives the answer,

“God doth not need    

Either man's work or his own gifts. Who best  

Bear his mild yoke, they serve him best. His State 

Is Kingly: thousands at his bidding speed    

And post o're Land and Ocean without rest:    

They also serve who only stand and wait.”

For centuries, Lent has been a season of fasting and penitence. We join with countless others [Moses, David, Elijah, Esther, Daniel, Anna, Paul, Jesus, Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Knox, John Wesley, Jonathan Edwards….] who’ve wanted to renew their repentance and faith “by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God's holy Word” (The Book of Common Prayer).  How this quite looks will be different for each of us, but the tradition is clear.

May we bear His mild yoke, trusting in His Kingly State, allowing His work to be done.