April 2, 2026 | Maundy Thursday @ Holy Trinity Lutheran Church – Buffalo, NY
Scripture References
John 13:1–17, 31b–35; Matthew 22:34–40; Matthew 5:14–16
These “Interesting Times”
There is a saying—sometimes called an ancient Chinese curse: May you live in interesting times.
Not “interesting” as in amusing or curious.
Interesting as in complicated.
Interesting as in it’s not clear what we are to do or which way we are to go.
Would you say we live in interesting times?
Would you say we live in confusing times?
Would you say we live in complicated times?
We live in these times when it’s not always clear which way we are to go.
But Jesus also lived in interesting times.
Jesus lived in complicated, confusing times.
And yet, he didn’t seem to get caught up in the distractions. He didn’t get caught up in all that was interesting, complicated, and confusing.
Too Many Commands to Count
How many commands and ordinances are there in the law of God?
Six hundred thirteen.
That’s a lot.
How are we supposed to fulfill all 613 commands and ordinances of God?
How are we supposed to know what faithfulness looks like?
It helps that we have the Ten Commandments, but even that is hard to keep track of.
We try to organize them:
The first commandments shape our relationship with God.
The rest shape our relationship with our neighbor.
And still—it can feel complicated.
Jesus Simplifies Everything
Is Jesus about making our relationship more complicated or about making it more clear and simple?
Jesus simplifies.
What is the greatest commandment? There are two:
Love God above all things.
Love your neighbor as yourself.
And then he says: On these two hang all the law and the prophets.
Everything—everything—comes down to these.
And yet, even here, we struggle with loving God above all things and loving our neighbors as ourselves.
This time and the end of Jesus’ life and this time in our lives … they are interesting … they are complicated … they are confusing.
But Jesus reminds us of the simplicity: Love. Serve.
Who Is My Neighbor?
Our natural curiosity leads us to ask – just like the lawyer in the Gospel –
Who exactly is my neighbor?
Who am I supposed to love?
Who am I supposed to serve?
And, likewise—
Who am I not supposed to love?
Who am I not supposed to serve?
But the answer is clear:
Love all people.
Serve all people.
Still, we get distracted.
We get overwhelmed.
We tell ourselves there is only so much love to give.
Only so much care.
Only so much justice.
Love in Action: The Basin and the Towel
And then we watch Jesus.
He got up from the table.
He removed his outer robe.
Jesus lived out what we have heard him say before … that he came to serve and not to be served.
He wrapped a towel around his waist.
He knelt down in front of his disciples … and he washed his disciples’ feet.
He became their servant.
Even knowing who they are.
Even knowing what they will do.
Jesus washed the feet of Judas, his betrayer.
He shared a meal with the one who will hand him over.
He washed the feet of his disciples who would scatter.
He washed the feet of Peter, the one who would deny him three times.
Becoming Light in the World
You and I have also been betrayed.
And we have likely betrayed others.
But we are called to a larger vision.
We are called to love not just who we want to love.
Not just to love when we want to love and serve when we feel like it.
Jesus gives a command—a mandate (this is where we get the name Maundy Thursday … from the Latin mandatum … mandate).
Jesus commanded us to love and serve other people just as he did.
This is the movement from faith in Jesus
to the faith of Jesus.
We have been disciples … we have followed Jesus … we have learned.
And now, we are being asked to go … to do the loving … to do the serving.
Because by this that others will know we are his disciples.
Jesus stood in the midst of all that was interesting and complicated and confusing in his time, just as Jesus is the light of the world the light that no darkness can overcome … Jesus is hope … Jesus is love.
In baptism, you and I are invited to let our light so shine before others, that they may see our good works and give glory to our Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16).
When we are baptized, we hear that we have this light of Christ, too.
You and I are called to be light in these interesting and complicated times in which we live. We are called to recognize that Jesus was not a victim of the interesting, complicated, and confusing times in which he lived … and neither are we.
So go …
Be light…
Be love …
In these interested, complicated, and confusing times.
Reflection Questions
- Where do you feel most overwhelmed or confused in today’s “interesting times”? How might Jesus’ call to love and serve simplify your response?
- Who is a “neighbor” you find difficult to love right now—and what might serving them look like in a small, concrete way?
- What would it mean for you, this week, to intentionally “be light” in one specific situation?
Epicurious Lutheran 
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