Devotion - Thursday of Holy Week

"Maundy" is a derivative of an older word for "commandment." This day takes its name from Jesus' commandment to love one another as he has loved us.

This is his instructions, to the disciples, on the last occasion of their being together.

How often is "Loving one another" listed among the essential (required?) marks of being considered one of Jesus' followers?

When we do speak of "loving one another - do we cast the net as wide as Jesus did (remember the parable of the Good Samaritan) or do we limit the scope to the members of our group, or congregation, or denomination?

"Loving as we love ourselves" means providing the same for the other as we provide for ourselves. How often do we head over to Spill the Beans for an ice-cream; how seldom do we contribute $5 toward Dance Marathon or Walk for Water?

I traveled this week for the burial of a dear friend and member of the congregation. I was attempting to get on the shuttle bus to the airport. The bus only accepted correct change. At the entry to the bus were myself, an Ultra-Orthodox Jew, and a man of African decent. So much about our individual and shared culture encouraged us to be suspicious of one another. Never-the-less, we opened our pockets, pooled our money, and all were able to ride the bus. A moment of grace which reminded me how seldom we abandon individual ownership over the resources God has provided.

Maundy means command. Jesus commands us to love one another. He teaches us that this love is not to be restricted.

In a few hours Jesus will be put to death by a world that would not allow him to continually remind us of his teachings. It is easier to pick and choose what we want to remember of his words when he is not there to say, "Don't forget that this is also something I said!" In a few hours, he will be arrested by those who wanted to make religious practice more important than Jesus-like living. And he will be executed by government authorities for whom boundaries and allegiances are more important than following the Lord who loves all the earth and all its inhabitants.

Maundy means command. Jesus commands us to love one another.