A New Mandate
Jesus said, “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” – John 13:34-35 (NRSV)
Maundy Thursday: the day in Holy Week—this week, the week before Easter—with a name that is pretty much a complete mystery to the average English speaker. In my church, it’s known as the day people won’t deal with Atlanta evening traffic to come to church (totally understandable), so we have an at-home “comzoomion” service.
Maundy comes from the word mandatum, which means “command, order” or closer still, “mandate.” Maundy Thursday got its name from an anthem sung in Catholic churches on this day: Mandatum novum do vobis, which are Jesus’ words, “I give you a new commandment that you love one another.”
There are days when I wish Jesus hadn’t said that.
Why not stick with the part about loving God, who, let’s face it, is much easier to love? How could Love not be loved? People on the other hand… In order to love them, I first have to know them, hear their stories, feel their joys and their pains, put up with their issues. I guess that’s why Jesus made it a commandment rather than a suggestion. Tall order, especially on the eve of Good Friday when we remember just how low humanity can go. It’s too easy to stay home and not bother.
Truly, Maundy Thursday is a mandate for change, a mandate to do the hard and holy work of showing up and loving people as Jesus did even when, especially when, humans were at their worst.
Prayer
When I think, “Not today, Jesus,” or “Not them, Jesus,” remind me that I am also loved anyway.
About the AuthorMatt Laney is co-Pastor of Virginia Highland Church UCC in Atlanta, GA and the author of Pride Wars, a fantasy series published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for Young Readers. The first two books, The Spinner Prince and The Four Guardians are available now.