Thoughts for the Day

For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, ‘This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.’ For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

(Readings this week reflect the order of events that happened during Holy Week, and are based on the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible)

Thoughts

This day is so important to Christians, so forgive me if I share something of my history with you: In August 1982, after a year on a Diocesan training scheme (and 8 months pregnant) I went to a Selection Conference to see if they would train me as a Deaconess. Subsequently accepted, I completed my training, and was licensed as a stipendiary Deaconess to a parish. The following year the male deacons were priested. As a woman I could not be a deacon, so I put my thoughts aside and got on with helping create a new Local Ecumenical Church. It was to be four years before the Church of England accepted the ordination of women, and in March 1987 we were ordained deacon. The following year the men were ordained priest, and the women were not. I felt as though God was calling me to be a priest, but the Church was struggling with the notion. However, on 7th May 1994 along with others I was ordained a priest.

That day will live in my memory for ever, although I admit it was overshadowed at the thought of having to celebrate the Eucharist the following day in the cathedral. As a Diocesan Officer I was to 'serve my title' in the cathedral. On the Sunday I found the Peace overwhelming as I came forward to link hands (as was their custom) with the whole congregation, while the moment of consecration at the heart of the service felt terrifyingly powerful with my mind full of thoughts of Saints Oswald and Wulfstan who had celebrated Mass here centuries earlier. Yet the whole service felt as though it was wrapped in love - God's love for us all, my love for those present, and theirs for me.

Something of this I feel each time we celebrate the Sacrament of the Eucharist, and especially on Maundy Thursday when our Lord instituted this service of bread and wine in remembrance of Him. May God grant it's so for all of us.

Lord Jesus Christ,
as You offered bread and wine
at that first Supper,
may we remember what it has meant
for Christians around the world
for over 2,000 years.
May we never take it for granted,
but celebrate this Service
with joyful reverence
and holy fear.
Amen.