A Mandate of Love
As we journey through Holy Week, we arrive at a profoundly sacred and emotional day: Holy Thursday, also known as Maundy Thursday. This day, observed on April 17 this year, invites us to pause and reflect on the final evening Jesus spent with His disciples. It’s a night that echoes through time — not with fanfare, but with the quiet, powerful echoes of humility, love, and ultimate sacrifice.
The Last Supper: A Table of Grace
Holy Thursday commemorates the Last Supper, when Jesus gathered His twelve disciples in an upper room to share a final meal before His crucifixion. More than just a farewell, this meal marked the institution of the Eucharist — the sacred act of breaking bread and sharing wine in remembrance of Him. In Luke 22:19, Jesus says, “Do this in remembrance of me.” It was a command not just to remember, but to live in the spirit of self-giving love.
At that table, bread became body, wine became blood, and a new covenant was born — one that spoke of mercy, redemption, and unconditional grace.
The Mandate of Maundy
The word Maundy comes from the Latin word mandatum, meaning commandment. On this night, Jesus gave His disciples a new command:
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” — John 13:34
This love wasn’t conditional, performative, or convenient. It was a radical, servant-hearted love. A love that stooped down, wrapped a towel around its waist, and washed the feet of others — even the one who would betray Him.
Can you imagine the Savior of the world kneeling at your feet? Holy Thursday reminds us that greatness is found not in being served, but in serving others.
A Night of Oil and Water
Today, Holy Thursday is marked by two meaningful services:
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The Chrism Mass, usually held in the morning, where sacred oils are blessed. These oils are later used in sacraments like baptism, confirmation, and anointing of the sick — each representing spiritual strength, healing, and calling.
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The Mass of the Lord’s Supper, held in the evening, includes the touching foot-washing ceremony. This simple but powerful gesture has evolved over time to include all people — men and women, young and old — reflecting the inclusive and universal nature of Christ’s love.
The Agony Begins
Holy Thursday doesn’t end at the dinner table. After the supper, Jesus goes to the Garden of Gethsemane, where He prays in anguish, fully aware of what awaits Him. He prays not out of fear, but surrender:
“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” — Luke 22:42
In this garden, we see Jesus in His most human moment. It’s a reminder that obedience to God is rarely easy — but always meaningful. His willingness to embrace the cross becomes the heartbeat of our hope.
What Holy Thursday Teaches Us Today
In a world often focused on power, prestige, and personal gain, Holy Thursday whispers a different way — the way of humility, service, and self-giving love.
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Are we washing feet in our own lives — metaphorically or literally?
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Do we love others as Christ has loved us — even when it’s uncomfortable or inconvenient?
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Are we willing to sit with others in their pain, as Jesus did at the table and in the garden?
This sacred day is not just about remembering what Jesus did — it’s about becoming more like Him.
Come to the Table
Holy Thursday invites us to come to the table — to be nourished by grace, transformed by love, and sent out to serve. As we move toward the sorrow of Good Friday and the miracle of Easter Sunday, let this day anchor your spirit in the truth that love is our greatest calling.
From the bread and wine to the water and towel, may every symbol of Holy Thursday remind us that we are not just observers of faith — we are participants in a story that is still unfolding.
Come to the table. Be filled. Then go and love.
