Good Friday

Two people asked me in church this past week where the name "Maundy Thursday" came from, and I was more than happy to show off some church-nerd knowledge.

(Growing up, I always thought the word "maundy" had something to do with washing, b/c the church services I went to tended to focus on Jesus washing the feet of the disciples. Somewhere early on in ministry, either during divinity school or shortly thereafter, I learned that it came from the Latin "mandatum," meaning "commandment." Depending on who you ask, that commandment refers to either Jesus saying "Do this in remembrance of me" or "Love one another as I have loved you" at the Last Supper.)

One person, however, followed up that question with "Well, what about Good Friday? Did that come from the word "God?" I was unable to find etymological information on Wikipedia, but I think the seeming irony is actually intentional. I wrestle myself with the sense in which we can think of the death of Jesus as good. (Great article by Rita Nakashima Brock in Disciples World here.) But, at the same time, I find Good Friday deeply compelling.

All four gospels spend a lot of chapters on the arrest, trial, and crucifixion of Jesus, and Paul, writing his letters to churches even earlier, talks about how Jesus died "for us."

I'm contemplating the mystery of today by listening to Jesus Christ Superstar: A Resurrection and fasting from noon to 3.