Why Do They Call It Maundy Thursday? (by Steve Orr)

Growing up in a very uncomplicated christian tradition, we didn't celebrate Biblical events as distinct days or nights of the year. We didn't have a church calendar to follow. We didn't divide the year into periods of Advent, Ordinary Time, Lent, etc. There was no Ash Wednesday, Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, or Good Friday.

And every Sunday was Easter.

Oh, I eventually came to understand that others celebrated Easter as a special day to commemorate the resurrection of Jesus from the grave. But it was a long, long time before I developed any understanding of all those other dates and events. It was high school before I learned about Ash Wednesday. And I was married, a father of a teenager, and living in New England before I ever even HEARD the term, "Maundy Thursday."

I remember that day, clearly. Upon being told we would be gathering at the church building to have an evening meal on "Maundy Thursday," I immediately asked what that was. I got the strangest look . . . followed by one of those "you know!" kind of answers people give when they only know part of the answer.

On "Maundy Thursday" christians gather on the evening before Good Friday to share a meal and recall the last meal Jesus shared with His disciples before His arrest, "trial," and death on the cross. We christians tend to refer to that as "the last supper," and, by imitating the breaking of the bread and the drinking of the wine, it is the model for our communion.

So, I quickly understood WHAT it was and why it was on Thursday evening. What no one could tell me, though, was why it was called "Maundy." Here is what I eventually learned: "Maundy" has nothing to do with "last suppers" or foot-washing (something else that occurred at that last meal). What it references is something Jesus said to them near the end of the meal: “I give you a new command: Love each other. You must love each other as I have loved you. All people will know that you are my followers if you love each other.” (John 13:34, 35 NCV)

The term, "Maundy" derives from the French word for mandate or command. We've been celebrating the "last supper" (or as I call it: "The Feast of the New Covenant") for millennia. But I can't recall the last time someone pointed out during a communion service that we are also celebrating "The Feast of the New Commandment." Each time we partake, we are to do so in remembrance of Jesus, and that includes His new command, His mandate.

Love each other.