As I type this, it is the Wednesday of Holy Week, 2024 – sometimes referred to as “Spy Wednesday” – the day when Judas made his deal with the devil.  Tomorrow will be “Maundy Thursday”.  Tomorrow will also be what would have been Renee’s 62nd birthday; the third birthday since she left.  Of course, because the dates of Holy Week change every year, her birthday and “Maundy Thursday” rarely coincide.  It happened in 2013.  The next time it will happen will be the year 2086.  So I suppose tomorrow is going to be the last time that I will see it happen.  

But even that is assuming that the “vapor”, the “mist”, the “fog” that is my life [words used by James, the brother of Jesus, to hauntingly describe lives which we foolishly believe we can somehow grasp and control] doesn’t vanish before then.  I no longer think that James was just trying to scare us.  He speaks the truth.  I have seen it.  Maybe I will see Renee’s 62nd birthday on Maundy Thursday tomorrow; maybe I will not.    

A strange word – “Maundy”.  It derives from an old Latin word – “maundatum” – which essentially means “commandment”.  [As you can see, our English word, “mandate”, has its origin in this word.]  When our Christian forefathers examined the events of the week leading up to the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, they noted that the most significant event that took place on the day we now call “Thursday” of that week was The Last Supper.  And they noted that it was during the Last Supper that Jesus issued a new “maundatum”, a new commandment: “I give you a new commandment – to love one another.  Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another.” – John 13:34.  “Maundy Thursday” is a special time of remembering all of the events of The Last Supper, with a particular focus on this “new commandment” of love.

“Love”.  It doesn’t really seem “new”.  It doesn’t really seem all that difficult.  What’s the big deal?  Why make such a fuss?  Why come up with a word for Holy Week Thursday that means nothing to anybody unless they look it up?  Is it like a code word – if you know it, you’re in; if you don’t, you’re out?

Well, “love” isn’t really new or difficult.  But the way Jesus tells us to love is new and difficult.  He says we are to express our love to one another “Just as I have loved you” – meaning in the same way, and to the same degree that Jesus expressed His love.  His love is deep; His love is sacrificial; His love is humble; His love is unconditional; His love never ends.  All of this makes me think of Renee.

Tomorrow, “Maundy Thursday”, I will remember Renee on her 62nd birthday.  I will recall how easily and gently and gracefully and joyfully she lived the “new” commandment to the full – first to her Lord, then also to me, to her son, to her family, to her friends, to her church - for a time which vanished all too quickly.  I will regret that she is no longer here to guide me in this through her example.  And I will miss her all the more.        

Ambrose Ramsey | Pastor and Shepherd