Maundy Thursday
Maundy Thursday (or Holy Thursday) is the day when Christians remember two important events in Holy Week. The first is Jesus washing the disciples feet and the second is the last supper that Jesus had with his disciples before the crucifixion.
In fact the name Maundy is a middle english/french word and comes from the latin mandatum which means commandment and it refers to the gospel of John chapter 13 verse 34, where Jesus gives the disciples a new commandment while he washes their feet.
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love each other the same way I love you.”
The last supper is so important to Christians that many churches celebrate it every week on Sunday (also known as Mass, Eucharist, Lord’s Supper, Communion, etc.). Those who don’t celebrate it every week have very good reasons why they don’t – often down to practical considerations.
However when these events are only ever thought about in terms of liturgies and ceremony I think they lack a certain something. They are fantastic bits of drama that should touch us deeply.
Jesus has already been through a great deal with his disciples and he is about to face something that they will run away from. Most of us would be getting angry and telling them that they had to stick with us but Jesus talks about the love he had for them and he washes their feet (a big deal for a leader and in their eyes a king to do) and then shares a meal with them. Of course the disciples, unlike Jesus, are unaware of what is going to happen so I guess this adds to the drama.
Holy week should not be an exercise in how many times you can get to church, instead it should be a time to reflect and feel the things that are taking place. Of course Good Friday is just around the corner.