Parts of Speaking Publishing

 Maundy sounds like "mundane" or a word that sounds like something sad, depressing, morose, lamenting.  But it relates to the command to love as shown in the washing of each other's feet.  How? The Latin word for commandment is "mandatum." Over time in French and Middle Engilsh, the vowel took on a different sound.  "A new commandment I give you, that you love one another," is the core. Some of the last words to his disciples!

I just figured out why I am not a darling of the literary world.  I don't use the "f-" word and I haven't written the gritty story of my life. Or the story of my gritty life.  The "f-word" is not forthcoming. Maybe some grittiness, though. 

 The Dispatch Faith website contains an essay "The Betrayal of Judas," which deserves reading.  https://thedispatch.com/newsletter/dispatch-faith/palm-sunday-judas-jesus/ A few excerpts: After seeing Jesus condemned, Judas had a change of heart. Blood money in hand, he went to the temple and confessed his sin to the religious authorities charged with mediating mercy. “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood,”  he told them . Their response was as chilling as it was brief: “What is that to us? See to it yourself.” In short, “Not our problem. Good luck with that!” Those same religious leaders would later debate what to do with the silver Judas threw down and returned, scrupulous about its moral contamination. In seeking to avoid implicating themselves by taking back the blood money, they were legally precise, but pastorally indifferent.  For Judas, the combined weight of these two betrayals proved unbearable, so he hanged himself. ..... English writer Julian Barnes g...

 Borrowing here from website: https://www.thenivbible.com/blog/holy-week-timeline/  TUESDAY: Day of Controversy and  Parables Matthew 21:23—24:51 ;  Mark 11:27—13:37 ;  Luke 20:1—21:36 In Jerusalem, Jesus evaded the traps set by the priests. Tuesday afternoon, on the Mount of Olives overlooking Jerusalem, Jesus taught in parables and warned the people against the Pharisees. He predicted the destruction of Herod’s great temple and told his disciples about future events, including his own return. Tuesday was thus a busy day with a great deal of teaching and confrontation. This same site says that Wednesday was a day of rest. I think not, really. It's just not recorded in a way we would expect it. Judas was betraying, disciples were questioning, and I'm sure Jesus was praying as well as teaching.

“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.” From an article on the ruins of a monastery in Kayala, Egypt:    Among the finds, one mural depicts two deer surrounded by vegetal motifs within a circular decorative frame. Deer are a surprising choice. Egypt’s native large mammals lean more toward   adapted desert species   like ibex, foxes, and gazelles. However, for communities shaped by the Bible, the deer likely evoked Psalm 42:1 (above). Deer are not efficient panters like dogs: They primarily cool down through their skin and by seeking shade or water. Panting signals physical need and desperation—it signals a deer in trouble. In this context, the deer in the monastery’s mural symbolizes spiritual longing, thirst, and dependence on God. The monastery’s presence in the transitional desert–delta landscape makes the choice of deer especially evocative. For a deer, an animal of streams and shade, to be in this landscape means it has found s...

 Luke 's version, chapter 17 (NIV) 45  When Jesus entered the temple courts, he began to drive out those who were selling.   46  “It is written,”  he said to them,  “‘My house will be a house of prayer’ [ a ] ; but you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’ [ b ] ” 47  Every day he was teaching at the temple. But the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the leaders among the people were trying to kill him.   48  Yet they could not find any way to do it, because all the people hung on his words. Matthew's version, chapter 21 (NIV) 12  Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves.   13  “It is written,”  he said to them,  “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ [ a ]  but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’ [ b ] ” 14  The blind and the lame came to him at th...