Protestants use Maundy and the Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox Holy Thursday. I use Maundy Thursday only when the two Easters do not coincide, hence Rev Schuller died on Maundy Thursday and not Holy Thursday.
The word Maundy is derived from the Latin word for “command” and refers to the command Jesus gave to the disciples at the Last Supper: that they should love and serve one another see (Luke 22:18-20).
5 He said to them, “I wanted very much to eat this Passover meal with you before I die. 16 I will never eat another Passover meal until it is given its true meaning in the kingdom of God.”
17 Then Jesus took a cup. He gave thanks to God for it and said, “Take this cup and give it to everyone here.18 I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine[a] until God’s kingdom comes.”
19 Then Jesus took some bread. He thanked God for it, broke it, and gave it to the apostles. Then Jesus said,“This bread is my body[b] that I am giving for you. Do this to remember me.”
20 In the same way, after supper, Jesus took the cup and said, “This cup shows the new agreement that God makes with his people. This new agreement begins with my blood which is poured out for you.”
Also on that day Jesus washed the disciples’ feet as an act of humility and service, thereby setting an example that we should love and serve one another in humility (John 13:3-17 see below). The Roman Catholic church celebrates this with people from the congregation chosen to have their feet washed by the presiding priest.
3 Jesus knew that the Father had given him power over everything. He also knew that he had come from God and was going back to God. 4 So during the meal Jesus stood up and took off his outer clothing. Taking a towel, he wrapped it around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into a bowl and began to wash the followers’ feet. He dried them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
6 Jesus came to Simon Peter. But Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
7 Jesus answered, “You don’t understand what I am doing now. But you will understand later.”
8 Peter said, “No! You will never wash my feet.”
Jesus answered, “If I don’t wash your feet, then you are not one of my people.”
9 Simon Peter answered, “Lord, after you wash my feet, wash my hands and my head, too!”
10 Jesus said, “After a person has had a bath, his whole body is clean. He needs only to wash his feet. And you men are clean, but not all of you.” 11 Jesus knew who would turn against him. That is why Jesus said,“Not all of you are clean.”
12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and sat down again.
Jesus asked, “Do you understand what I have just done for you? 13 You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord.’ And this is right, because that is what I am.
14 I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet. So you also should wash each other’s feet.15 I did this as an example for you. So you should do as I have done for you. 16 I tell you the truth. A servant is not greater than his master. A messenger is not greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, you will be happy if you do them.
This simple act of washing feet is a metaphor for how the world looks through the lens of Jesus’ love & grace. He sees the people—the world He created—with love like a Father does upon his child. But Jesus is not blind by his father’s love. He also sees the filthy corruption in the world that torments everyone. His mission is to cleanse those whom He loves from those horrors and heal their hearts, and pain, with his charity and benevolent love.
In my anguish... 