THEOLOGICAL CLUE

The title of this day, Maundy Thursday, would not apply to two or three of the churches observing this day, mainly because "Maundy" was connected to the footwashing ceremony that finds root in John 13:1-15; it would be appropriate for the Roman Catholic Church, which employs John 13 for all three years of the calendar and lectionary. Holy Thursday is more appropriate, if the gospels of Luke and Mark are read as the Gospel for the Day. The "foot-washing," which does not really occur in many churches, nevertheless, is one of the central themes of this day: Jesus gave his disciples a "new example" - to love and serve each other as he had served them by washing their feet. Holy Thursday also was known, in a very old calendar, as natalis calicis (Birthday of the Chalice), or t…