Maundy Thursday Thoughts
What does one of the most important meals in history, or the Last Supper, have to share with us about the theme of inclusivity, especially in religious spaces?
Today marks "Maundy Thursday" in the Christian liturgical calendar.
For those who observe it, Maundy Thursday commemorates one of the most significant meals in history — the Last Supper of Jesus of Nazareth, later known as "the Christ" or anointed one. This meal occurred on the eve of Passover, an important Jewish holiday celebrating the Israelites' liberation from slavery in Egypt.
Throughout the New Testament, discussions over food or shared meals are recurrent themes in documenting the early Jesus movement. I'd like to draw attention to the days preceding the Last Supper when Jesus and his disciples visited Bethany, a small town near Jerusalem.
While the four Gospel accounts — Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John — chronologically outline the same timeline of events, minor details can differ in each. All four narratives agree that Jesus visited his friends Martha and Mary of Bethany. This detail, often overlooked, hints at Martha and Mary's wealth, as women rarely inherited property in that era. It's noteworthy that affluent women, including those from the Roman-appointed Herod dynasty, supported Jesus and his disciples, underscoring their resonance with his message of radical love, acceptance, and equality.
Jesus, a rabbi, treated women as equals, encouraging them to embrace the divine and participate in spiritual discussions alongside men — a rarity in ancient times. Yet, many modern interpretations gloss over these stories, perhaps due to ingrained biases.
The narrative continues with Martha's stress over preparations while Mary sits among the disciples, listening to Jesus. When Martha complains, Jesus defends Mary's choice, affirming her right to engage in spiritual discourse — a revolutionary act in a patriarchal society.
Similarly, when Mary anoints Jesus with expensive oil, Judas criticizes her, but Jesus defends her actions, valuing her gesture of love and devotion. These instances illustrate Jesus's consistent support for women, challenging the prevailing norms of his time.
Reflecting on these stories prompts us to question why some contemporary Church leaders avoid discussing them. Could it be to preserve entrenched power dynamics? Such reflection is crucial for fostering inclusivity and understanding within religious communities.
Have you ever wondered what Jesus and his disciples may have eaten during the Last Supper? Fun fact: Lately, I’ve been binge-watching Chef Sohla El-Waylly’s “Ancient Recipes” YouTube videos for the History Channel.
In this video, she dives into the history of the dishes they may have enjoyed, creates those dishes from scratch, and then taste-tests them just because. Check it out below!