On this Maundy Thursday, we are sharing a guest post from Dr. Dwight J. Friesen, Associate Professor of Practical Theology. Thanks to Dwight for allowing us to republish this piece of writing from on 鈥渢he kind of God I鈥檇 be interested in getting to know鈥�. May you be blessed by this imaginative reflection and God鈥檚 desire to be present with you. May this Holy Week bring you a fresh discovery of a God who invites you to come to the table and commune together.
Blessed Maundy Thursday. . . God鈥檚 invitation to 鈥渨ash up before dinner.鈥�
Imagine a God who doesn鈥檛 demand your worship, mindless obedience, or tithes but actually serves you out of love, simply because that鈥檚 who God is. . .
Imagine a God, so located within God鈥檚 own identity that God isn鈥檛 concerned what others would think, nor bows to societal, religious, or cultural pressures but is present to what is most real. . .
Imagine a God who takes the most holy day of your tradition(s) and through God鈥檚 own presence throws open the table so that all are welcome, especially those who鈥檝e been told in a thousand ways that they don鈥檛 deserve a seat. . .
Imagine a God who dines with those riddled with doubt, or who think that God isn鈥檛 revolutionary enough/or in the 鈥渞ight鈥� ways, or who even deny or betray God. . .
Imagine a God who desires 鈥� even needs 鈥� real relationships, communing as the Godhead, and with friends鈥ven if God鈥檚 friends can鈥檛 seem to stay awake. . .
Imagine a God who rejects violence enacted on God鈥檚 behalf, healing the oppressor and inviting followers to put away their weapons. . .
Imagine a God who suffers. . .
That鈥檚 the kind of God I鈥檇 be interested in getting to know. . .
As far as I understand, this is getting at the role Maundy Thursday plays in the annual enactment of Christ鈥檚 life; this is getting at what we are observing and remembering and discovering afresh. . .
Have a blessed Maundy Thursday, and for Christ鈥檚 sake wash up before dinner!
Gratitude and credit to Dr. Dwight Friesen, original post: ““