Mandatum novum do vobis ut diligatis invicem sicut dilexi vos

This evening, I learnt about and thought about something  really interesting I'd not realised or thought about before.  It is Maundy Thursday.  I've attended a church service this evening for several years.  I always thought it was just (I say 'just' as in, without the other things I've discovered tonight) about Jesus sharing the last supper with his disciples and setting the example of how he wanted them to remember his sacrifice. 
But today, I've discovered it means so much more than that.

The name (which I didn't know) came from the latin mandatum which means commandment.  The middle English equivalent of that was Maundy.

It comes from the phrase from the gospel: "A new Commandment I give unto you, that you love one another as I have loved you."

It was the passover and Jesus had shared the Passover with his disciples, the old institution, the lamb sacrificed to rescue Israel from Egypt.  That linked to the original 10 commandments.  And the same night, he instituted the new commandment and the new meal (holy communion)- so it was a combination of the two meals in one evening: the old and the new.  The eve after which he would give up his life, the final sacrifice, the lamb to be slain for the wrongdoing.  Tonight, we arrived at church to find the Passover meal set up on a long table in the chancel.  We shared that passover meal:

Source here:  The lamb, unleavened bread, salt water, bitter herbs (horse radish, chicory, lettuce, horehound), Charoseth (a paste mixture of apples, dates, pomegranates, nuts) and wine.

It was really nice and unusual.

We shared holy communion (passed around between each of us) and then stripped the altar.  All was left bare and sparse.  It never fails to move me.
At the last supper, as well as sharing and instituting the first holy communion, Jesus washed the feet of his disciples. He said 'Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet.  I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.  Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them."

The talk, which our music leader gave talked about why Jesus did this.  The fundamental fact was that He said that Peter (and indeed I) cannot be part of him without letting him wash my feet.  It was necessary for Jesus, the author of Creation, he who all authority had been given to,  to wash my feet.  He who did no wrong, to wash my feet: to cleasne me from all  I have done or failed to do.  And I should do likewise, wash the feet of those around me, give lovingly, caringly, being servant-like.

It was lovely and very powerful and left me thoughtful for the rest of the evening

Were you aware of its meaning or were you like me?


xx