A thought for

[Jim]

Maundy Thursday

They call it Maundy Thursday...yes...
The day before Christ's cruel death,
A day for him of such duress
That thought of it can take one's breath;
He rode into Jerusalem
Just days before to great acclaim,
Thought by his own to rescue them
From hated Rome and from their shame.

The fact he rode upon an ass
Instead of chariot – war-framed –
Was sign of what would come to pass...
No war with Romans, beaten, shamed,
No courts to sentence cruel foes
To torture, then their lives to take,
No vengeance clearly to expose
A hate of scores of years to slake.

For Jesus, Maundy Thursday meant
A final time to teach the word
That he, the son of God, was sent
To be in flesh God's holy Word
And thereby show to all mankind
In terms quite unmistakable
God's firm edict, by death defined,
That God's love is unshakable.

Christ's last full day drew to its close
Midst closest friends...a last meal, prayer...
For him there would be no repose –
Instead, Gethsemane's night air;
For one last time he made it clear,
The Gospel's message – sacrifice –
And on the next day would adhere
To that maxim with – sacrifice.

[David Flick]

[Haruo]

Yes, thank you, Jim.