Thursday, April 5, 2007

What Thursday is It?

Mandatum novum do vobis ut diligatis invicem sicut dilexi vos

It is, in the end, all about love.

Not about the mechanics of sin,
Not about the celestial engineering of salvation.
Not about blind faith, or creeds, or covenants, or even confession.

This day is commonly named "Maundy Thursday", or, if you prefer, "Commandment Thursday".

We are so good at remembering the old words, but we forget the meaning, if we knew it. And we put the emPHAsis on the wrong sylAble. Or in this case, the wrong word.

What is this Thursday commandment?

A new commandment I give unto you, that you love one another as I have loved you

If we must use the Latin, it shouldn't be Maundy (Mandatum-Mandate or command) Thursday. It should be Diligatis Thursday.

Or in the Greek, 'Agape':
Today was Agape Thursday;
'Love Thursday'.

It is, in the end, all about love.

Go forth to love and serve each other, every one, and in doing so, know that you serve the Lord.

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