When I was a child, I never understood the idea of Monday being on a Thursday. I mean, I knew it was a tough week for Jesus, and would only get worse. But why Monday? Oh wait, I have late word that it is actually Maundy Thursday, which may be derived “from the Latin mandatum, the first word of the phrase ‘Mandatum novum do vobis ut diligatis invicem sicut dilexi vos’ (“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you”), the statement by Jesus in the Gospel of John (13:34) by which Jesus explained to the Apostles the significance of his action of washing their feet.” Or not.
I had commented on someone’s blog recently, and I mentioned a pastor that I used to have in the past decade. My observation about him, indeed his own casting of himself, made him more of a Lenten person than an Easter person. Goodness knows I love good, depressing Lenten music, for instance, as much as anyone. But if someone is stuck there, it’s like — my goodness, I just thought of a probably inappropriate analogy!
OK, it’s like splurging on a big wedding, and the groom doesn’t show up. I was thinking of that because a number of church hymns use this somewhat odd imagery of Christ as the bridegroom and the church as the bride. I get it, but still, find it a bit peculiar, and I’d think it might be off-putting to some.
Musicians and choirs involved with churches often call this “hell week” because of all the extra services. I’m fairly tired myself, so that’ll be it for today.
I read recently that some think the name came from “maundsor”, or baskets the English king gave to the poor on that day, and that some say that if it came from “Mandatum” the day would be called “Mandy Thursday” (which kind of makes me think of Barry Manilow…). I just think it’s fascinating that even after all this time, we still don’t know the origin of a name for something central to so many people’s religion.