Celebrating Maundy Thursday

Today is Maundy Thursday which is called by some Holy Thursday or Covenant Thursday, or the Thursday of Mysteries. But I like the term Maundy Thursday best because Maundy comes from the Latin mandatum which means command and refers to the command Jesus issued on the last Thursday of His life: “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another” (John 13:34).

Traditionally on Maundy Thursday the Maundy Ceremony has been performed where people wash the feet of the poor in commemoration of the event that occurred on the first Maundy Thursday when the Savior washed the feet of His apostles and told them to serve others. Over the years the traditions have changed and in some places the Thursday before Easter Maundy Money is given to the poor.

In addition, today is the first day of the Easter Triduum or the three days that commemorate the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ—in my mind the three holiest days of the year. Besides the command to love one another, and His example of serving one another, the Savior gave us so much direction and expressed so much love for us on this day. So for me, today is a day to think about and savor His words. I love Maundy Thursday and hope to celebrate it by doing what He told me to do—love others.