Sermon for Maundy Thursday, 2025

Jesus died for harlots and tax collectors, for prophets, and apostles. He died for employers and employees, for both the active and the retired; He died for administrators, accountants, bankers, beauticians, counselors, custodians, food service workers, forest rangers, healthcare providers, housekeepers, mechanics, miners, operations managers, oil field workers, scientists, specialists, teachers, technicians, and for everything in between. Jesus died for fathers and mothers, sisters and brothers, sons and daughters. He gave Himself up for Peter, who denied Him, for Judas, who betrayed Him, and for all those who falsely accused and convicted Him, who mocked, scourged, and crucified Him; He even gave Himself up for you. He gave Himself up for all that none should perish. 

We gather together tonight to remember the cost of our sins; we come to behold and partake of this mystery of mercy. Here, the holy and spotless Lamb comes for guilty and dirty sinners: for you, for me. We have nothing to offer Him, and He comes not to receive from us. On the contrary, our Lord Jesus comes to give us what His self-offering has accomplished: forgiveness, life, and salvation, full and free. Come, let us receive what He sets before us in the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar: His true Body and Blood, under bread and wine, given and shed for us for the forgiveness of sins. And by this eating and drinking, let us remember and carry within ourselves the death of Christ, and, in so doing, proclaim His death until He comes again. 

Readings:

Old Testament: Exodus 12:1-14

Epistle: 1 Corinthians 11:23-32

Holy Gospel: John 13:1-15

Sermon: