Maundy Thursday: The Missing Holiday UPDATED

UPDATE: Tenebrae: A Service of Shadows; Another term for the Maundy Thursday service
"The service of Tenebrae, meaning “darkness” or “shadows,” has been practiced by the church since medieval times. Once a service for the monastic community, Tenebrae later became an important part of the worship of the common folk during Holy Week." . . .

The Missing Holiday  

"During Sunday School a question was asked, “Of all the holidays during the year, what’s your favorite?”  This being the third week in March several answered, “Easter”, while Christmas, Thanksgiving and the 4th of July were also in the running.  Then the instructor asked if anyone celebrated this coming Thursday; something I hadn’t considered as a ‘holiday’.

"As Easter weekend comes around perhaps this Thursday should be celebrated; if not as a holiday then surely it falls into the category of important and significant.

"It was on a Thursday that Jesus and a few of his chosen disciples retired to the Garden of Gethsemane where the Lord could finish out his mortal ministry.   During those long lonely hours the Lord prayed to his Father and took upon himself the sins of the world, sweating, as it were, drops of blood from every pore." . . .

 . . .39 Then Jesus came out and went, as he usually did, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. 40 When he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not fall into temptation.” 41 Then he went away from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down and prayed, 42 “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will but yours be done.” 43 An angel from heaven appeared to him to strengthen him. 44 And remaining in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. 45 When he got up from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping, worn out by grief, 46 so he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not fall into temptation!” 47 While he was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the one called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He walked up to Jesus to kiss him (Luke 22:39-47).  Also at Bible.org; The Gospel of John, Chapter 17

Many believers in Christ do not know about this occasion. It is meant to be dark and mournful and often worshippers are asked not to visit with others on the way out afterward. The mood is meant to be similar to Jesus' followers after they laid him in the tomb and walked away. It is such a preamble to the joyous atmosphere of Easter Sunday when we can exclaim,

"HE IS RISEN!"
"He is Risen INDEED!"

The Tunnel Dweller