MAUNDY THURSDAY
Maundy Thursday commemorates Jesus Christ’s institution of the Eucharist during the Last Supper. The day is also known as Passion Thursday, Paschal Thursday or Sheer (or Shere) Thursday. Maundy Thursday is the traditional English name for Thursday of Holy Week, so named because it is considered the anniversary of the institution of the Eucharist (Sacrament of the Altar or the Blessed Sacrament) by Jesus at the Last Supper. The night of Maundy Thursday is the night on which Jesus was betrayed by Judas in the Garden of Gethsemane. The Last Supper took place in "the upper room" of the house believed to have been owned by John Mark and his mother, Mary (Acts 12:12). This room, also the site of the Pentecost, is known as the "Coenaculum" or the "Cenacle" and is referred to as "Holy and glorious Sion, mother of all churches" in St. James' Liturgy. At the site of this place – the first Christian church -- a basilica was built in the 4th century. It was destroyed by Muslims and later re-built by the Crusaders. It is believed that the tomb of David lies underneath this place.
Two important events are the focus of Maundy Thursday. First, Jesus celebrated the last supper with His disciples and thereby instituted the Lord’s Supper, also called Communion (Luke 22:19-20). Second, Jesus washed His disciples’ feet as an act of humility and service, thereby setting an example that we should love and serve one another in love and humility. The name 'Maundy' is derived from the Latin word “mandatum”, meaning a commandment. Jesus Christ, at the Last Supper, the Bible says, “rose from the table took off His outer garment, and tied a towel round His waist. Then He poured some water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and dry them with the towel round His waist.” Jesus then commanded: “And now I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” The disciples were familiar with the Ten Commandments. Jesus now gave a new commandment – to love one another. It is a new commandment (mandatum novum) of Jesus, and the word ‘maundy’ comes from the command (mandate) given by Christ at the Last Supper. Washing of the feet was normally done by servants. The Bible says, when David’s servants visited Abigail to invite her to become David’s wife, she said she would be a servant to wash the feet of servants. Abigail told them that washing their feet would be an act of service to them, and she willingly offered to do that. During the preparation of the last supper, Jesus Himself assumed the role of the servant and washed the feet of His disciples before the meal was served.
In the 17th century, and earlier, the King or Queen of England would wash the feet of the selected poor people as a gesture of humility, and in remembrance of Jesus' washing the feet of the disciples. The last monarch to do this was James II. The ceremony of the monarch giving money to the poor on this day dates back to Edward I. In Britain today, the present Queen takes part in the Ceremony of the Royal Maundy. This ceremony, held at a great cathedral, involves the distribution of Maundy money to deserving senior citizens (one man and one woman for each year of the sovereign's age), usually chosen for having done service to their community.
Inspired by Jesus’ new commandment (mandatum novum), pious Christians down the centuries have tried hard to love others by serving them. Francis of Assisi’s father was a wealthy cloth merchant and his mother belonged to a noble family. No one loved pleasure more than Francis; he had a ready wit, sang merrily, delighted in fine clothes and showy display. Francis was handsome and gallant, and was the most popular among the young nobles of Assisi. And yet, moved by Jesus commandment to love one another, he spent time in prayer and solicitude and gave up his gay attire and wasteful ways. The church at that time had little regard for outcasts, for the poor, for lepers. But Francis gave away his possessions to the poor. Lenin once said if there had been 10 of Francis, there would have been no need for revolution. One day, while crossing the Umbrian plain on horseback, Francis unexpectedly drew near a loathsome leper. The sudden appearance of this repulsive object filled him with disgust and he instinctively retreated, but presently controlling his natural aversion he dismounted, embraced the stinking leper, kissed him and gave him all the money he had. After mounting on the horse, he looked back. But the leper had vanished. Did Jesus appear as a leper?
Damien was the seventh child of a wealthy corn merchant. He volunteered to work among lepers in Moloka, Hawaii. His role was not limited to being a priest. Father Damien touched the stinking skin of lepers, dressed ulcers, built homes and beds, made coffins and dug graves. While preparing to bathe one day, Damien inadvertently put his foot into scalding water, causing his skin to blister. He felt no pain at all. Damien now knew he had contracted leprosy. Despite this discovery Damien worked vigorously to nurse lepers and built many homes. He submitted to the mandate of Jesus to love others and by serving lepers he died a leper at the age of 49. Maundy Thursday reminds us of Jesus’ tender love and care for humanity. Jesus teaches us to measure our lives by losses rather than gains, by sacrifices rather than self-preservation, by time spent for others rather than time lavished upon our lives, by love poured out rather than love poured in. Jesus’ own ministry was saturated with love and He invites us to follow His example as footwashers.
