Blogging Through the Alphabet - Letter M Is for Maundy

Thank you for joining me for another week of Blogging Through the Alphabet. This week we are taking a look at the Letter M. In honor of the Holy week of Easter, the Letter M we will be focusing upon this week is Maundy.

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, Maundy refers to a ceremony of washing feet. Maundy also refers to alms collected and distributed to the poor. Finally, an obsolete definition of Maundy is a feast.

Maundy comes from the Latin word Mandatum, which is defined as a Mandate or an authoritative command or an order or commission.  (Merriam-Webster)

When you take the definitions of Maundy and Mandatum and place them in context of John 13, Maundy Thursday starts to make sense.

First, Jesus and the Disciples gather for a meal often referred to today as The Last Supper. According to the obsolete definition, Maundy means feast. Three of the four Gospels refer to the Last Supper as a Seder: the Jewish meal of Passover.

Jesus - The Ultimate Sacrificial Lamb

Next, Jesus washes his Disciples' feet. Another definition of Maundy is foot washing. Jesus washed his Disciples feet as an act of love.

Finally, Jesus gives his Disciples a mandate: another definition of Maundy. Jesus commissions his Disciples to love one another.

These events occurred before Jesus' betrayal by Judas. The next day, Jesus would begin his journey down the Via Dolorosa, which literally means a painful or distressing journey. He would carry his cross and our sins to Calvary, which interestingly is defined as an experience of intense mental suffering. (Merriam-Webster) However, he would spend time with his beloved ones before his suffering. He would ensure that they would carry on the ministry he had started. To do this, Jesus would leave them with a great commission: to love one another. This mandate extends to us as well. We are to love one another. How better can we show our love for him than to love others as he would have us love them?

Thank you for stopping by my blog. Please take a moment to stop by Blogging Through the Alphabet hosts: A Net in Time and Hopkins Homeschool to see what words they're sharing for the letter M this week. Also, consider clicking on the other links at the bottom of their pages to read more exciting letter M words. Also, you can join in on the fun and share your letter of the week blogs there as well. Just be sure you read and follow the link-up guidelines.