Today is “Maundy” Thursday—the Thursday when Christ and his disciples had their famous last supper together, where he washed their feet and established communion as the practice we engage with to "remember him."  

The word Maundy is Latin for “mandate” or command. Jesus in his last night with his disciples gives them several commands that are woven into the DNA of the church 2,000 years later.
 
Below are a couple of key passages that Christians around the world will be reading and celebrating today. Try reading all the scripture below slowly, out loud, three times all the way through.  See what words, images or ideas pop out to you.
 
¹² When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. ¹³ “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. ¹⁴ Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet…. 
 
³⁴ “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. ³⁵ By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
-John 13
 
 
¹⁴ When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. ¹⁵ And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.¹⁶ For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”
 
¹⁷ After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. ¹⁸ For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”
 
¹⁹ And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” ²⁰ In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you…”
                                                                                                -Luke 22