Uncomfortable Christianity

Maundy Thursday

Opening

Let's begin with a moment of silence, centering our minds, bodies, and hearts upon the Lord our God.

Quote

“I didn’t go to religion to make me happy. I always knew a bottle of Port would do that. If you want a religion to make you feel really comfortable, I certainly don’t recommend Christianity.” -C.S. Lewis

Reflection

We learn a great deal about Christian practice from St. Peter. In Scripture, he is not portrayed as a perfect human being but as someone who sometimes gets it wrong. Peter loves the Lord and is a devoted follower but struggles with wanting that devotion to be demonstrated on his terms. “Look how committed I am!” his actions seem to say, but often Jesus shakes His head and admonishes Peter. Consider the account of Jesus washing His disciples’ feet. At first, Peter says no, certain he is correct in refusing—a master should not wash the feet of His servants. His own overconfidence makes Peter miss Jesus’ lesson in humility. After Jesus rebukes him, Peter then overcompensates. If Jesus is to wash his feet, then Peter wants his hands and head washed as well. Again, in his hasty zeal, Peter has missed the point.

Later, Peter draws a sword to prevent Jesus from being arrested. This is not the kind of courage Jesus is seeking from Peter. Rather, He is looking for the kind of courage Peter later fails to exhibit when he denies knowing Jesus three times. In these examples, Peter fails to really listen to Jesus, and so his acts of devotion crash and burn.

It takes time for Peter to fully understand his calling. It can take us time as well. The Lord does not call us to live on our own terms but on His. It can be uncomfortable to relinquish our ideas about who we are and how we want to prove our Christian devotion. If we do not learn to do so, however, we are not truly followers of Jesus Christ but merely followers of our own selfish desires.

Prayer

Almighty Father, whose dear Son, on the night before He suffered, instituted the Sacrament of His Body and Blood: Mercifully grant that we may receive it thankfully in remembrance of Jesus Christ our Lord, who in these holy mysteries gives us a pledge of eternal life; and who now lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

Reflective Practice

Look over your resume. Consider the elements on it that you consider important to defining who you are. How much of that emphasis is driven by your desire to be seen as the best, and how much by desiring the glory of God on His terms?

Closing

If you would like to dive deeper into the themes of this devotional, you are invited to continue by listening to today's Scripture passages, giving thanks to God for his word, and asking Him to write it upon our hearts.

Go in peace today, and let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.