Holy (Maundy) Thursday Devotion

*Bleecker Street by Paul Simon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcXoGTACMHA

Fog's rollin' in off the East River bank
Like a shroud it covers Bleecker Street
Fills the alleys where men sleep
Hides the shepherd from the sheep

Voices leaking from a sad cafe
Smiling faces try to understand
I saw a shadow touch a shadow's hand
On Bleecker Street

The poet reads his crooked rhyme
Holy, holy is his sacrament
Thirty dollars pays your rent
On Bleecker Street

I head a church bell softly chime
In a melody sustainin'
It's a long road to Canaan
On Bleecker Street

Bleecker Street

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Paul Simon

Bleecker Street lyrics © Carlin America Inc

*famous street in Greenwich Village, Manhattan, NYC

Grace and peace to you from our Lord and Savior, Jesus, the Christ. Amen.

During Holy Week we will continue our Lenten Series of exploring the human condition through the lyrics of Paul Simon and addressing the malady suggested by the song with the Gospel.

Evocative images of Holy Thursday as the disciples prepared for the Passover Meal with Jesus as host.  I’d say it was a Bleecker Street Moment.

The Passover with the Disciples

12 On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed, his disciples said to him, “Where do you want us to go and make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?” 13 So he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him, 14 and wherever he enters, say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks, Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 15 He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.” 16 So the disciples set out and went to the city, and found everything as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover meal.  Mark 14:12-16

Imagine that a foggy shroud is cast over the streets in Jerusalem filling the alleys where people sleep.  The disciples have an eerie feeling that hides the shepherd from the sheep.

They walk past café’s where people whisper in hush voices fearing Pilate’s wrath at any sort of rebellion during Passover while shadows touch other shadows hands holding on in hope of some new day.

The disciples locate the upper room and begin preparations for the Passover.  Each one enters from the foggy shroud over Jerusalem and awaits Jesus.

During Passover the Poet (Jesus) reads his crooked rhyme.  Holy, holy is his sacrament as 30 pieces of silver pays for his betrayal.

The shofar horn is played chiming in Passover and indeed it is a long road to the promised land of Canaan as they enter the night of betrayal and trial.

The disciples have walked through Bleecker Street and are about to be changed forever. 

Shall we join them?

Amen