When I was in seminary, I got an email from my daughter who asked me, "What's the etymology/history of implementation of Maundy into Holy Week?". (She was studying theology at St. Thomas University where she was a student.) Well, I didn't have a clue, so I had to look it up. This is what I found out:
Maundy comes from the Latin phrase "mandatum novum" which means new commandment. It comes from the gospel of John we just read, chapter 13, verse 34, when Jesus says, "I give you a new commandment, that you love one another." And in the 14th and 15th verses Jesus "Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you."
Travel back with me to a time two thousand years ago. The upper room in a villa on the edge of Jerusalem. The walls are a type of white plaster with some fresco paintings and embellishments. There is a large table in the center of the room - and around it are the lounging chairs that allow Jesus and his disciples to eat their meal reclining as was the practice of the day.
When the first Passover meal was eaten, according to the institution of Moses in Egypt, it was eaten standing up, fully clothed with staff in hand ready for traveling. But that was more than a thousand years in the past and now the people eat this meal like they ate other meals, reclining in the more contemporary Roman fashion. I know this is true because in verse 23 (which we didn't read) it says "One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him."
As the meal progresses Jesus does something that is very ordinary. He motions to the servants to bring the jars of water for the ritual washing of feet. This was not required of the host to provide for the washing, but was a common courtesy offered to guests - especially when you are reclining at table and your feet are likely to be in someone's face - it's nice for them to be clean.
But when the water was brought - he did something quite extraordinary. He got up and took off his outer garments. He tied a towel around his waist and he poured water in the basin. Then he went to the feet of the nearest disciple and began to wash his feet. After washing his feet, Jesus wiped them dry with the towel at his waist. Silence hung in the room as the disciples tried to grapple with the meaning behind Jesus' action.
He continued in this manner until he got to Peter - and Peter couldn't stand it. He sits up and breaks the silence. "Lord, you don't have to wash my feet."
"You are right, Peter, I don't have to do this. I want to do this. It is my gift to you."
"No, Lord, I can't let you do this." (You see, there were any number of things going through Peter's mind at that time. Peter never had wanted to accept what Jesus was all about. He was first to claim, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." But his concept of what that meant was skewed. He was always bucking Jesus - no, you don't have to die, you don't have to wash my feet, let's stay on the mountain… Even later this night, it would be Peter's sword that cuts the ear off the high priest's servant.
This act of service that Jesus is performing is below Peter's concept of what Messiah is all about.)
Jesus tries again and basically tells Peter this: "Peter, if you don't let me do this, you can't be my friend."
Peter is really insecure, just like many of us. And when Jesus says this, Peter is terrified of losing favor with Jesus and being sent off. So once again he goes overboard - "well, then, not just my feet, but also my hands and head, everything." You see, Peter is trying very hard to be on top, and he figures if a little bit is good, then a whole lot has got to be better.
And Jesus tells him, "Peter, you just really don't get it. I am offering each one of you a relationship. It's the kind of relationship that accepts the gift offered, without question and without asking for more. For if you can't accept this gift now, how are you going to be able to accept the gift I offer later - the gift of my life?"
He washes Peter's feet and the other disciples - even Judas. Each disciple is offered the same gift of relationship. It's the same gift of relationship that Jesus offers to each one of us. And just like the disciples in that upper room two thousand years ago, we each have to decide if we want the kind of relationship that Jesus offers. It's the kind of relationship in which we can sit at a table together, and we can serve each other, and we can allow ourselves to be served by the other.
This was the original "Pay it forward". Jesus says, "For I have given you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you." The correct order is this: First you receive, then you can give. One of my favorite songs is the "Servant Song". The words of the first verse express exactly what Jesus was trying to tell his disciples that last night. It says,
"Won't you let me be your servant, let me be as Christ to you.
Pray that I may have the grace to let you be my servant too."
That's what Peter had to do - he wanted only to serve, but Christ insisted that he also receive. For we cannot pass on what we have not received. Those of you who would like to have a share of the Lord Jesus in this way, Jesus invites you to come,
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