The name comes from the Latin Bible: "Mandatum novum do vobis ut diligatis invicem sicut dilexi vos" ("A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you”). I think that the name suffers a bit in English. Allow me to set the scene, just a little bit. In the Gospel of John, it is reported that Jesus desired to share the passover with his disciples and that when they gathered, Jesus took up a towel, wrapped it about himself and proceed to wash the feet of the disciples. There follows an exchange with Peter, who at first wants to switch roles, saying that Jesus is the greater and therefore Peter should wash Jesus’ feet, not the other way around. Jesus talks about how serving and being served are important parts of a close relationship and Peter sort of over-reacts offering to allow Jesus to wash all of him. The scene is rather funny, when you think about it. It is in this context that Jesus makes his simple request of his followers: love each other the way I have loved you.

It has been dubbed the one mandate of the Christian lifestyle - that we love as we have been loved. Jesus spoke Aramaic. John recorded his gospel in Greek. The Roman Church ordered the Bible to be translated into Latin, which was the common language of the people at the time. We don’t speak much Latin around here these days, so after the printing press was invented, and after a few good family fights within the church, bibles became translated in many different languages. Some of the translations have been more accurate than others. Despite the rather circuitous path of language, the power and presence of Jesus continues to be conveyed from generation to generation through the words of the Bible.

Still, there are some misunderstandings that come from the words we choose. Maundy Thursday comes off as a bit somber and sometimes carries a sense of a steep religious demand. People sort of expect those of us who work in the church to go around with the smiles wiped off of our faces.

But love makes you smile.

Love is joyous and joyful.

Loving each other is a pleasant pursuit.

The folks I serve aren’t all that big on having their feet washed. We’re sort of the church of Peter in that respect. I get that. I don’t like taking off my shoes and socks in public. My feet stink half the time and I never know which half this is. And my toenails look funny. In general scrubbing is something that I prefer to do myself, in private, thank you very much. I like the story. And I understand the value of getting down on my knees to serve others. I just choose to serve by moving furniture and using the plunger to unclog toilets and scrub floors and serve in other ways. I understand that the position of pastor can become a kind of way to set oneself above others and it is very valuable from time to time to set things straight and remind myself that I’m not the one in charge and I’ve been called to serve these wonderful people not the other way around.

The mandate of Maundy Thursday, however is not that we wash other feet. That action is symbolic of many others. The mandate is to love as Jesus loved. Sometimes you can express that love by washing feet. Sometimes you can express it be washing dishes.It works in many ways.

The use of Maundy as the name for today varies in different communions and different locations. The Roman Catholic Church, in its decision to move away from the use of Latin as a result of the Second Vatican Council in the 1960’s now uses the term “Holy Thursday.” That’s the common term in the Methodist Church as well. The Episcopal Church tends to use Maundy in its prayer books. Our church, along with the Presbyterians and Lutherans and a few other mainline churches tend to use both Holy Thursday and Maundy Thursday as interchangeable terms.

I’m not sure which name is best for the day. I like the Idea of reminding ourselves that Jesus made the simple request that we love one another. It seems to be at the core of our faith and at the core of choosing to live in community with one another. I think the name can, however, be a bit “off putting” to folks who aren’t familiar with the religious term. It might also be fading from our society as familiarity with Latin is fading. Now that it is not the language of the Roman mass, it is an uncommon language in High School curriculums. I took two years of Latin in high school. I don’t think it was even an option for our children. I suspect that our grandchildren will be far more fluent in computer languages than ancient languages. The name Maundy might not be the chosen term a few generations from now. I’m OK with that. Things change. Language changes. The name of the day isn’t at the core of its meaning.

I do hope that generations from now people will hear and respond to Jesus invitation to love.

There is another old term for the day that you rarely hear around here. There Thursday (sometimes spelled Sheer), is used throughout Scandinavia. The name may have its root in the Swedish word Skär, an archaic word for wash. In many congregations it is a day of a specific kind of spring cleaning, preparing for the large Easter celebrations that are coming. In some congregations it is the day of changing the colors of the vestments from the purple of Lent to the white of Easter. It also might be a reference to an ancient custom of trimming beards on the day.

I had my beard trimmed last Friday. It seems like this week was just too busy to attend to such mundane chores.

I have, however, been washing my own feet every day all week long.

Whatever you call it, it is a day worth noting. And the reminder to love one another is worthy of our attention.

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