Year C Holy Week Maundy Thursday
Scripture
Testament: New Testament
Book: 1 Corinthians
Chapter: 11
Verse: 14
Lectionary
Year: C
Season: Holy Week
Week: Maundy Thursday
Keywords
Lectionary Meaning
Theological Focus
Maundy Thursday commemorates the institution of the Lord’s Supper and the 'mandatum' or commandment to love one another. It is a night of intimacy, service, and the beginning of the Passion. Theologically, it establishes the Eucharist as the ongoing way the Church participates in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus until his return.
Scriptural Connection
In 1 Corinthians 11, Paul provides the earliest written account of the Last Supper. He reminds the community that whenever they eat this bread and drink this cup, they proclaim the Lord’s death. This scripture connects the ritual meal to the ethical life of the community, warning that to partake without discerning the body—the needs of the brothers and sisters—is to miss the point of the sacrament.
Sermon Ideas
Theme: 'Proclaiming Through the Table.' Discuss how the act of communion is a radical act of memory and hope. How does our participation in this meal shape our identity as a servant people? You might use the hook of 'holy memory' to explore how the simple elements of bread and wine carry the weight of God’s eternal covenant.