Good Morning,
Today is Maundy Thursday and our last devotional in our 2026 series. Thank you all for being on this journey with us. Our devotional today is written by Amy Stewart. Her title is Instructor II in the School of Music. She has taught at TCU since 2011, directing the Vocal Jazz Ensemble, as well as teaching a variety of courses such as Ear Training, Theory, History of Western Music I, Sacred Music, Intro to University Life, and Survey of Rock. Amy has played an integral role in our university-led worship services over the years, and is a gift to the Religious and Spiritual Life office in so many ways. She is also a proud alum, and received her Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance in 1996 and her Masters of Music in Organ Performance in 2000.
The Horned Frog spirit runs deep in her family: her mother and sister were faculty members, her grandfather-in-law taught Old Testament at Brite Divinity School for many years, and in her family, there are 12 degrees from TCU (soon to be 13 when her niece graduates in 2 years). There are many things Amy loves about TCU, but she will tell you the best thing about TCU is walking into her classroom and spending time with her students (and having her niece here too)! As we continue to make our way towards Easter, may her words on this Maundy Thursday remind us as we gather around our own tables tonight that we are a community of love invited into God’s healing of the world.–Rev. Lea McCracken, Associate Chaplain
Scripture: John 13:6-10
He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus answered, “You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.” Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” Jesus said to him, “One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. (NRSVUE)
Reflection:
Maundy Thursday has long been an important service for me in the church year. The drama of Holy Week leading up to Easter and the communal ritual of the Lord’s Supper resonates deeply for me. Perhaps that’s because I had my first communion on Maundy Thursday after being baptized on Palm Sunday when I was about 11 years old. Perhaps it’s because I like dramatic stories and rituals that connect us to each other. Maybe it’s a little from column a and a little from column b. When reading the lectionary scriptures for today, I felt a strong kinship with Simon Peter. Peter is frequently outspoken, eager, passionate, and seemingly regularly chastised by Jesus. But Jesus still loved Peter and included him in his ministry. Peter even went on to be one of the main leaders in the early church, enthusiastically sharing God’s love far beyond Galilee.
In the Disciples tradition, the communion meal is central to our worship. I sometimes joke that “where two or three Disciples are gathered, there will be communion.” This communal meal that we share every Sunday has its origins in the Passover meal that Jesus shared with his friends before his death and resurrection. As the words of institution remind us each time we partake, “Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” (NRSVUE)
The word remembrance in this scripture in Greek is anamnesis. Anamnesis essentially means to remember or recall past events. More than that, in the Christian tradition it has come to mean that when we remember, those past events become new and present for us again. It is not just an act of recalling, we are joining again with Jesus and his disciples, and all disciples throughout time in a real and transformative way. Drama indeed.
I pray that this Maundy Thursday, you find your own connection to the drama of Holy Week, and to the whole Body of Christ in all times and places. For it is in this community of love that we participate in God’s healing of the world.
Prayer
Holy God, as we gather around tables tonight and remember you, open our hearts and minds and ears and eyes to your very real presence. May we find our own place at your table, surrounded by your love. Move in our hearts so that the drama of this week inspires us to more boldly share your love with the world. Amen.