On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed, his disciples said to him, ‘Where do you want us to go and make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?’ So he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, ‘Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him, and wherever he enters, say to the owner of the house, “The Teacher asks, Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?” He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.’ So the disciples set out and went to the city, and found everything as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover meal. When it was evening, he came with the twelve. And when they had taken their places and were eating, Jesus said, ‘Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.’ They began to be distressed and to say to him one after another, ‘Surely, not I?’ He said to them, ‘It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread into the bowl with me. For the Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that one not to have been born.’ While they were eating, he took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to them, and said, ‘Take; this is my body.’ Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, and all of them drank from it. He said to them, ‘This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. Truly I tell you, I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.’ Mark 14:12-25
A Litany for Maundy Thursday
Gracious Creator, you invite us in as family
to sit at the table and listen to the promise
of life eternal, your love surrounding us
a way through our human suffering and pain.
God of love, fill us with your compassion today.
The days of betrayal and abuse are upon us
you took on all our human failings and sorrows
so that we might know the depth of love
you have for every one of the human family.
God of love, fill us with your compassion today.
We enact the foot washing and altar stripping
we move to the deep shadow of your cross
we draw into ourselves the dust and blood
that is spilt mingled, and lost for us all.
God of love, fill us with your compassion today.
We are not worthy of your great sacrifice
yet it is your worthiness and not ours
this divine act of deep and abiding love
has freed us all to follow in your ways.
God of love, fill us with your compassion today.
Let our lives today and always be love
let our words and actions bring peace
may our sacrifice be of our own pride
so the world might know your love as well.
God of love, fill us with your compassion today. Amen.
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