Maundy, Grieving, Loving Thursday

Growing up I always believe that this had something to do with a supernatural overhaul of an impenetrable love, that couldn’t be hurt by anything. Time has done its job though, in teaching me that being hurt by ones you love escapes no one, Jesus included.

Today’s post is not long, but it is hard. It is the eve of his death, and yet, Jesus will still gather at the table with one who will go down in history as a traitor, as well an entire table of people doing the same thing. Peter is going to pretend he doesn’t know him. The rest of the disciples will go into hiding. Jesus is going to die without them, and he knows that. Even with this knowledge, Jesus feeds them, dines with them, and bathes them. Jesus knew who they were, knew the ways in which he would hurt him, but love the whole of them. Loved them so much, he took care of them.

The formal gathering for which they have gathered for is to celebrate the Passover, remembering from and whence they came, the ways in which God kept them, and brought them over. Compound remembering that experience with the news of your teacher, mentor, savior, and lord telling you that they are about to die. It’s just all heavy. It all hurts. It is all too much. It is happening anyway, though. He is dying, anyway.

However heavy all of this is, it was not heavy enough to stop Jesus from giving them these intimate, intentional, acts of service, and love. For this love, is impenetrable. This love is complicated, and nuanced, and had good reason to be taken away, but this “love has no limits. His grace has no measure. His powers have no boundaries known unto men…”

Even on the most complicated days, with broken hearts, and deepest grief, even so, is not enough to stop true love. May we all get to know this love without limitations, this love that even while hurt, never fails. This is not a piece of advocacy for an abusive community that tolerates being subject to constant intentional harm. This is a piece, however, that makes room for the grace that exist between community, family, even when it’s less than perfect love.

“His love has no limits

His grace has no measure

His power has no boundaries known unto men

For out of his infinite riches in Jesus

He giveth

And giveth

And giveth, again”

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