Today is Maundy Thursday, a very significant day in the Lent calendar. For some, it is the start of a vacation that will last until Monday, April 8, 2023. For most, it’s a time to redo traditions that have been halted during the pandemic, rekindle ties with family members, or reset in order to have an introspective look into one’s actions, mission, and purpose in life.
Not a lot of Filipinos are aware that “maundy” comes from the Latin word “mandatum,” which means “mandate” or “command.” Therefore, Christ’s command is commemorated today, when he shared what became the Last Supper with his disciples. This was also where the washing of the disciples’ feet was done by Christ, an act of humility and selfless love, something of a harbinger of the events that would transpire in the coming days.
In the Last Supper, Christ had this to say, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another (John 13:34).”
This scene at the Last Supper is celebrated in art, culture, and history, as it symbolizes the life and work of Christ, and it marks us as part of his new covenant. Biblical scholars also look at the Last Supper as a test of faithfulness, of the importance of humility, and anticipation of the ultimate sacrifice — that Jesus Christ gave up His life in order for mankind to have a chance at redemption and everlasting life.
After the Last Supper, the disciples went with Christ to the Mount of Olives. There, He would be betrayed by Judas. This would escalate to events that would see Him being paraded in the streets of Jerusalem, nailed to the cross, and resurrected on Easter Sunday.
From Maundy Thursday to Easter Sunday, Catholics call this the “Easter Triduum,” events that commemorate the passion, death, and resurrection of Christ. In Catholic churches, a Chrism Mass is celebrated, where holy oils used for baptism and confirmation will be blessed. The holy oils are symbolic of the healing and comforting presence of the Holy Spirit, and the blessing today is a powerful reminder of God’s love and mercy. Some churches will have a bishop washing the feet of 12 priests, symbolizing Christ’s washing the feet of His disciples, the first priests.
All the events from today leading to Easter are filled with symbolic meanings. But all these will not be significant in one’s life without us following Christ like a disciple. In Pope Francis’ Lent message, he wrote: “Lenten penance is a commitment, sustained by grace, to overcoming our lack of faith and our resistance to following Jesus on the way of the cross. This is precisely what Peter and the other disciples needed to do. To deepen our knowledge of the Master, to fully understand and embrace the mystery of His salvation, accomplished in total self-giving inspired by love, we must allow ourselves to be taken aside by Him and to detach ourselves from mediocrity and vanity.”
And to stress that faith without action is “useless,” this is how the Pope challenged the faithful: “We need to set out on the journey, an uphill path that, like a mountain trek, requires effort, sacrifice and concentration.”