Maundy Thursday A’26
2 April 2026
John 13.1-17, 31b-35
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church
North Little Rock, Arkansas
The Rev. Carey Stone <+>
“I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.” Amen. – From John 13
Holy Week began this past Sunday (known as Palm Sunday,) with Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem riding on a donkey to the shouts of Hosannas from the crowd waving and strewing palm branches on the road.
Next in Holy Week came Spy Wednesday where Judas agreed to spy on Jesus and promised to betray him to the religious leaders for the price of 30 pieces of silver. This was not a fortune; it was equal to a month’s pay for a common laborer. It was also the price under the law of moses, that a slave owner would be paid if their slave were killed by an animal – a possible foreshadowing of Christ’s betrayal and death.
On Thursday evening of Holy Week Jesus and his disciples were gathered to celebrate what would come to be called “the Last Supper” where Jesus and his disciples would share a final Passover meal. In the Episcopal Church and throughout the Anglican communion this night became known as Maundy Thursday.
Maundy is a peculiar word formed by combining the letters from old French and Middle English words, and is derived from the Latin phrase mandatum novum and means “a new commandment.” It was during the reign of King John in the 13th cen. that a long-standing tradition started where the Monarchs of England would wash the feet of the poor and give them money. The coins that were given to the poor were known as “Maundy Money” and this tradition continues to this day with King Charles III. It has lost some of its original meaning by the discontinuation of foot washing, and the maundy money is now given to worthy recipients for their acts of Christian service to church and community.
But let’s return to that first Maundy Thursday night some 2026 years ago. This would be a night like no other for Jesus and his disciples. Jesus was going to say and do three things that up to this point had never been said or done before. First, he would give them a new commandment, secondly, he would wash their feet, and third, he would create a new variation on the traditional Passover meal which would become Holy Communion for the Christian after Christ’s ascension.
The new commandment (the mandatum novum) was and still is:
“I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.”
If you have listened to many sermons, you will have probably heard the Greek word Agape’ used to describe the sacrificial Love God has for us. This word Agape’ is a noun. Something that is fascinating, when you look up the Greek for Jesus’ new commandment – one might expect that the word Agape’ divine love would be used but it’s not what was used. The word for love in Christ’s new commandment is Agapao and it’s a truly beautiful choice for Agapao is not a noun – it’s a verb! It is God’s love – set into motion, and demonstrated by action. So, this took the command to love our neighbor as ourselves to whole new level:
‘I give you a new commandment that you show sacrificial love in action towards one another. Just as I have shown sacrificial love in action towards you, so you should show sacrificial love in action for one another.’
The next thing that happens is so shocking that Peter resists and only after protesting does he give in. Jesus humbles himself and taking on the form of a servant, wraps himself in a towel, gets down on his knees starting with Peter and begins to wash his dusty weary feet, and said: “Unless I wash your feet, you have no share with me.” A practical duty that all pedestrians of the day had to do for themselves Christ would show that he was not too good to do for his disciples:
“So, if I your Lord and teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have set you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.”
We do this action of foot washing every year on this night to remember that we are called to show sacrificial love in action. Why only once a year? Well, most of us drive cars, trucks or SUVs and don’t need our feet washed unless were in the hospital. However, we have found that there are many ways to show sacrificial love in action: When we are home sick and the soup patrol knocks on our door with piping hot soup and bread we have been shown love. When we are perplexed, distraught and was given a listening ear and wise counsel we have been shown love. When someone gives us rides to the church when we are unable to drive ourselves, we have been shown love. When in the secrecy of our homes we pray for one another, we have shown love. Whenever we are sinned against and choose forgiveness rather than hold a grudge we are showing love in action.
This is one of the things that makes the Church different from a social club or community service organization; we don’t get to pick who we come to church with, or who we will be sharing communion with at the altar. Some of us can be difficult, we have disagreements, and can be hard to understand, but these are the very ones that we have been called to show sacrificial love in action to. It really is all about love – Agapao! By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you show sacrificial love in action for one another! Amen.