Apr 09 2009
Thoughts on Maundy Thursday
Maundy Thursday
The name of this day comes from the Latin word “mandatum” from which derives the English word mandate and refers to the new commandment of Jesus - that we love one another.
Jesus did many things in his life and yet what we remember more than anything else on this day are his actions as well as the actions of his disciples. The actions of Jesus commemorated on Maundy Thursday are threefold.
First, Jesus the teacher washes his disciples feet. No longer can they be inferior to him and with one act of humility Jesus demonstrates a world beyond positions of power and dominance. “You must wash one another’s feet.” For centuries we have studied and even acted out this event and yet still we strive to be better than others. How many wars might have been averted had we turned to wash one another’s feet? How many tears might not have been shed? It is not too late, may we turn those tears into water that cleanses the world from all the “isms” of power and belittling.
Second, Jesus breaks bread and pours wine and tells his friends to remember his body and blood in that. More mysteriously, we are assured that Jesus is present with us when we re-member him in this breaking of bread. A simple meal reminding us that no one is turned away and there is no scarcity. More significantly, the full personhood of Jesus becomes a part of who we are, his blood mingles with ours. We become like Mary, with Jesus growing inside us. What would happen in the world if we believed we contained the promise and compassion of Jesus?
Third, Jesus went into the garden and prayed. He asked God to free him from the torture we will remember on Good Friday. “Let this cup pass from me, but not my will but your will be done.” God’s will for Jesus and for all of us is to grow fully into who we are made to be. Jesus could not be Jesus if he turned from the final and total rejection of power that was the cross. In the passover ritual, the final cup is the cup of blessing. On a deep level the cup which Jesus drank in the garden was the same cup of blessing, a blessing poured out. What would happen if we too believed we were called to live into who we are created to be? What would happen if we recognized that we are not to escape trials but to find the cup of blessing poured into the world?
Jesus’ disciples struggled with the washing of feet. In the last supper both friends and enemies were the same people. In the garden, Jesus’ closest friends could not stay awake even for an hour.
This night, in the darkness, people feel dirty from the names and harms poured upon them by others. Unwed mothers feel shame, drug addicts are told to get a job, prisoners are cut off from their families, many have no place to sleep, people are beaten for living into their gender or sexuality, children live without their parent’s love. All too often the world is hurt by our inability to keep watch, even for one hour.
We are friends and enemies at once. Jesus has been among us and now he has even said that his body and blood are found within us. The new commandment was, “Love one another. The world will know that you are my followers when you love one another.”
What will that world look like?
