I am always drawn to Maundy Thursday worship, to hear the lesson from John where Jesus gives the Mandatum, the command, “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.” A commandment to love; was that necessary? Did Jesus have to command people to love? Isn’t it obvious that’s what we are supposed to do? Sadly, no.

I heard a news commentator remark that there was a time when people ran for public office by appealing to bright aspirations–to hope, to the promise of a better future. Today that doesn’t work. Politicians now use the dark threats of fear and hatred. An appeal to love, compassion, mercy, kindness, care is dismissed as weakness. Lord, have mercy!

Around 1200 years ago people began singing a chant during the foot washing ceremony in the Maundy Thursday worship. In Latin the words are: “ Ubi cáritas et amor, Deus ibi est” translated as “Where there is charity and love, there is God.” About 50 years ago French composer Jacques Berthier set the words to music for the Taizé Community, an ecumenical Christian monastic community in France. I have been to a service where this was sung hundreds of times over 20 minutes. It’s a moving, inspirational experience.

Lord, let us hear your commandment to love one anther. Let it fill our hearts and minds so there is no room for the dark oppressiveness. Let us be bold in speaking your command and even bolder in living it.

Read John 13:31-35 and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally.

Wayne