Above: The Dogma of the Redemption, by John Singer Sargent
Image Source = Library of Congress
Reproduction Number = LC-USZ62-133671
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The Collect:
Holy God, source of all love, on the night of his betrayal,
Jesus gave us a new commandment,
to love one another as he loves us.
Write this commandment in our hearts,
and give us the will to serve others
as he was the servant of all, your Son,
Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever. Amen.
–Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006), page 30
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The Assigned Readings:
Exodus 12:1-4 [5-10] 11-14
Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19
1 Corinthians 11:23-26
John 13:1-17, 31-35
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Some Related Posts:
Exodus 12:
http://lenteaster.wordpress.com/2010/10/29/thirty-eighth-day-of-lent-maundy-thursday/
http://ordinarytimedevotions.wordpress.com/2010/12/29/week-of-proper-10-friday-year-1/
http://ordinarytimedevotions.wordpress.com/2011/03/12/proper-18-year-a/
1 Corinthians 11:
http://lenteaster.wordpress.com/2010/10/29/thirty-eighth-day-of-lent-maundy-thursday/
John 13:
http://lenteaster.wordpress.com/2010/10/29/thirty-eighth-day-of-lent-maundy-thursday/
Prayer for Holy Thursday/Maundy Thursday:
http://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2011/02/24/prayer-for-holy-thursdaymaundy-thursday/
Lord, Help Us Walk Your Servant Way:
http://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2011/07/01/lord-help-us-walk-your-servant-way/
That Solemn Night:
http://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2012/04/28/that-solemn-night/
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O Lord, I am your servant,
your servant, the child of your handmaid;
you have freed me from my bonds.
I will offer to you a sacrifice of thanksgiving
and call upon the name of the Lord.
–Psalm 116:14-15, Common Worship (2000)
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The greatest title of the Bishop of Rome is “Servant of the Servants of God.” That model of servanthood comes from Jesus himself, who affirmed by words and deeds the dignity of human beings and called we mortals to respectful community. In serving each other we seek and find our own best interests, for what affects one person has an impact on others.
The Passover and the Exodus marked the freedom of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, delivered them from the sins of their oppressors, and set them on the way to hearing an ideal of responsibility to and for each other. In the Law of Moses people, all slaves of God, have no right to exploit or oppress each other. We humans have yet to fulfill that ethic in our social, economic, and political systems, unfortunately.
Ironically, the reading from the Gospel of John is set on Wednesday, for, in the Fourth Gospel, our Lord and Savior dies on Thursday, while the sacrificial animals die at the Temple. He is, in other words, the Passover Lamb. He was, for many, a scapegoat in a difficult political situation. Yet the wrath of the Roman Empire fell hard in time anyway.
Scapegoating anyone violates the ethic of mutuality in the Law of Moses. May we, in reverence for Jesus and because it is the right thing to do, refrain from scapegoating people. May we respect their dignity actively and effectively instead.
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
NOVEMBER 28, 2013 COMMON ERA
THANKSGIVING DAY (U.S.A.)
THE FEAST OF SAINT STEPHEN THE YOUNGER, DEFENDER OF ICONS
THE FEAST OF SAINT JOSEPH PIGNATELLI, RESTORER OF THE JESUITS
THE FEAST OF KAMAHAMEHA AND EMMA, KING AND QUEEN OF HAWAII
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Adapted from this post:
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BLOGA THEOLOGICA 
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