Maundy Thursday and Religious Tradition

Maundy Thursday is one of the holy days of the Easter tradition in the Christian faith. Maundy Thursday, also called Holy Thursday, occurs annually on the Thursday preceding Easter. Particular Christian sects feast in remembrance of the Last Supper of Jesus Christ and the Apostles. According to the Gospels, Jesus ate Passover Seder in Jerusalem. He was crucified the next day; known as Good Friday.

Holy Thursday typically begins the Easter celebration, followed by Good Friday, and Easter Sunday. According to the Gospels, Jesus washed the feet of the Apostles before the Passover Seder. This humble act represented the importance of performing modest deeds, particularly for Christians. During the Passover meal, Jesus shared bread and wine. The bread symbolized his body, and the wine his blood.

Considering Maundy Thursday and the Easter tradition generates sentiments of inspiration. The beauty of Easter exists in the wonderful storytelling of the Gospels, and the moral lessons that are valuable resources for all humankind. Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Religion is to do right. It is to love, it is to serve, it is to think, it is to be humble.” Religion is magnificent in its traditions, ethical teachings, and its way of uniting loved ones to celebrate the goodness in life. Though, if each story or lesson is taken out of context, trouble will certainly arise.

The belief in a higher power is awe-inspiring. Many people reckon that something greater and more formidable than man exists, creating life and pushing the Universe to its outer limitations. If a creator does exist, and created humans in his own image, why would he choose favorites amongst mortal, imperfect beings? Strict belief in a religion is fundamentalism, and it often leads to violence. This occurs because fundamentalists can only see the differences, not the similarities we all share.

After all, the Universe is inextricably connected. It is so easy, so effortless, to see the disparities amongst mankind. It is much more genuine, and in accordance with nature, to see the connection we all have with each other. For example, humans must rely on plants for oxygen, and plants in turn rely on humans for carbon dioxide. The list can go on forever, but all life and creation relies on something else. A true religious individual is humble and admits ignorance. They wish to help others, regardless of race, religion or ethnicity. Heck, that is what Jesus would love to see if he could come back today!