MAUNDY THURSDAY Thursday, April 14
John 13:34: I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. For those of us who grew up in the church, we are probably familiar with the Thursday before Easter known as “Maundy Thursday.” For those of you who did not, or who may have grown up in a non-liturgical church, this might be a new concept. But whether you have grown up with this or not, have you ever wondered what “maundy” means? Maundy Thursday is the day when we traditionally celebrate Jesus sharing the last supper with the disciples. It would have been a passover celebration with many friends and relatives in attendance. During the supper in John, Jesus washes the feet of the disciples (John 13:1). In Matthew, Mark, and Luke, Jesus takes the bread and wine and gives it to those gathered saying “Take and eat...” and “Drink this all of you..” (Mt 26:26-27) and to “Do this in remembrance of me.” (Lk 22:19) Again in John, Jesus gives the disciples a new commandment, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34) You see, Maundy comes from the Latin word mandatum, where we get the word “mandate.” It means “command.” It’s on this day, when Jesus is in his final moments loving and instructing the gathered followers, he leaves them with commands; wash the feet of the other (serve), eat and drink of the promise of God in the meal so that you do not forget who you are, and above all, love. Love one another. It becomes the very hallmark of what it means to be the people of the Jesus-way. How we love one another is how we will set ourselves apart from the other. We love by the way we serve the other. We love when we remember the covenant in bread and wine that we are children of God. We love; it’s just what we do. To choose love is not just a way of kindness, it’s the way we show we are the people who follow the teachings of Jesus. And this is not something that is asked of us, it is commanded. It is not “if we feel like it,” it is a necessary part of being a child of God. This Maundy Thursday, may your heart and will be resolute to follow the Jesus commandment to love one another. In this, we will show we are the people of God. Spirit of love, restore in us a new heart that we may follow the command to love one another. Amen Pastor Jay Gamelin, Lead Servant for Family Life
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