Maundy Thursday

The Easter season is upon us.

Around this time each year I'm reacquainted with the strange word maundy, as in "Maundy Thursday." I like the way it sounds, especially when one pronounces the "day" part with a long e sound. Maundy is from the Latin mandatum ("mandate") and referring to Christ's command about washing the feet. (See below.) Or it may perhaps be derived from an old English word, maund, which meant "to beg" and referred to a small basket held by beggars (maunders). I also found references to "maundy money," which was a coin specially minted by the monarch around Easter. In contemporary usage and when combined with the day of the week as it is at Easter, maundy refers to the religious ordinance of foot washing.

Now my husband's being raised a Free Will Baptist means, among other things, that he is familiar with this tradition. John 13 talks about Jesus' washing His disciples' feet and exhorts them to wash one another's. I've heard my husband say many times what a humbling experience it was—not to have an older man wash his pre-teen feet but rather experiencing one of God's choice men kneel down in front of him and wash his smelly feet. I've never participated in a religious maundy myself. Perhaps some time I'll have that privilege.

I'm contemplating Christ's death and burial today and looking forward to resurrection day (Sunday), when Christians rejoice with a resounding, "Hallelujah! He is risen!"