Our Sacred Roots: The Priesthood of All Believers

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T he O bservance of H oly W eek

Maundy Thursday April 14, 2022

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Holy Week recalls the events of our Lord’s suffering and death. We recall his triumphant entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, his giving of the commandments on Maundy Thursday, his crucifixion and burial on Good Friday, and the solemn vigil of Saturday night before Easter Sunday.

TODAY’S THEME Love One Another, John 13.1-17, 31b-35

Before the Feast of the Passover, being with his disciples in the Upper Room, our Lord knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father. During supper, he laid aside his outer garments, took a towel and tied it around his waist, poured water into a basin, and washed the disciples’ feet. In this grand act of humility, he demonstrated the kind of servanthood that should characterize the relationships among his disciples in the church. He also gave a new commandment of love to his disciples: that we love one another, as he has loved us.

Daily Devotional Guide Preparing Our Hearts

Invocation: Our Prayer of Acclamation Almighty Father, whose dear Son on the night before he suffered did institute the Sacrament of his Body and Blood: Mercifully grant that we may thankfully receive the same, in remembrance of himwho in these holymysteries giveth us a pledge of life eternal, the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who now liveth and reignethwith thee and the Holy Spirit, ever one Godworldwithout end. Amen.

~ United States Prayer Book, in JohnWallace Suter, Jr., ed. The Book of English Collects . NewYork, NY: Harper, 1940. p. 18.