Mass
Readings: Ex
12:1-8.11-14; Ps 116:12-13, 15-16. 17-18; 1Cor 11: 23-26; Jn 13:1-15:
Key
Verse to Ponder: So
if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one
another's feet (Jn 13:14).
Dear Brothers and Sisters
in the Lord,
Today the Church celebrates Maundy Thursday, the commemoration of
the Last Supper of the Lord, as we begin the sacred Triduum leading
to the feast of Easter. Maundy Thursday reminds us of the Last Supper that
Jesus shared with His disciples before His passion and death. Jesus spent the
final hours before His arrest in the company of His apostles, celebrating the
Passover with them.
During this intimate moment, Jesus showed extraordinary love for His
beloved disciples, teaching them about the commandment of love and
leaving them with profound instructions. That is why, during the liturgy, the
Gospel presents the powerful gesture of the washing of the feet.
The Last Supper is, in essence, a historical
commemoration of the Jewish Passover meal. But it becomes far more significant
and memorable for Christians due to three key dimensions:
1. It is the day on which Christ
instituted the Holy Eucharist.
2. It is the day on which He
instituted the Holy Priesthood.
3. It is the day on which He gave
us the Commandment of Love.
For the apostles, it must have been a
strange supper. The whole city was preparing for the feast of Passover,
celebrating their liberation from slavery in Egypt. The disciples had no idea
this would be their last meal with the Master. They could not imagine the
weight of the moment. But Jesus knew exactly what was about to unfold. Yet He
did not want to frighten them. He wanted them to feel His presence and, more
importantly, His unfailing love, right up to the very end.
The Passover and the Last Supper
The Last Supper is the historic fulfilment of the Passover meal of the
Jews. Today’s first reading from the Book of Exodus reminds God’s people of
the first Passover meal commanded by Yahweh to His servants Moses and Aaron
in Egypt: "Now you shall eat it in this manner: with your loins
girded, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall
eat it in haste—it is the LORD’s Passover" (Ex 12:11). The Lord
clearly instructed them how to celebrate the Passover, even specifying the lamb
to be sacrificed: "Your lamb shall be an unblemished male a year old;
you may take it from the sheep or from the goats" (Ex 12:5).
In the New Testament, this Passover finds its fulfillment in Jesus
Christ. Jesus, the Lamb of God, sacrificed His life and shed His blood
for us, saving us from eternal death. Thus, the Passover meal becomes a memorial,
as commanded by the Lord: "This day shall be a memorial for you, and
you shall keep it as a feast to the LORD throughout your generations"
(Ex 12:14).
The Washing of the Feet: A Lesson in Love
In today’s Gospel according to St. John, we encounter the moving
scene of the washing of the disciples’ feet, which is unique to John’s
Gospel. Interestingly, there is no explicit reference here to the Eucharist or
the priesthood; instead, the emphasis is on the commandment of love.
As Christians, we are called to love without limits, imitating the
example of Jesus. Yet Maundy Thursday also reminds us of the institution of
the Eucharist, which is clearly presented in the second reading from St.
Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians (1 Cor 11:23–25).
The Gospel accounts of the institution of the Eucharist can be found in Luke
22:19–20, Matthew 26:26–28, and Mark 14:22–24. In the Gospel of Luke we
read: "Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he
broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body, which is given for you.
Do this in remembrance of me.’ And likewise the cup after supper, saying, ‘This
cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood’" (Lk
22:19–20). Here we see the beautiful actions of blessing, breaking, and
sharing. The bread is broken and the wine is poured out and shared—symbols
of Christ’s complete self-giving.
The Institution of the Priesthood
Jesus’ command, “Do this in remembrance of me,” reminds us of the
institution of Sacred Orders, especially the priesthood. During the
period of the coronavirus lockdown, we deeply realized the importance of
the priesthood in the life of believers and in the Church. Without priests,
there are no Holy Masses, no sacramental absolution, and no Holy Communion.
Priests are representatives of Christ, the Eternal High Priest.
Though they are human and possess both weaknesses and strengths, they are men
consecrated and set apart for God’s service. Therefore, we must pray for
them, support them, and hold them in our hearts and prayers.
Jesus’ Love in the Midst of Betrayal
In the Gospel, we see Jesus spending the last hours of His earthly life
with His disciples. The Master manifests extraordinary love for the apostles,
imparting teachings and final instructions. During the Last Supper, Jesus
expressed His love not only through His words but also through the institution
of the Eucharist, offering His Body and Blood under the forms of bread and
wine as spiritual nourishment for us.
Yet this love was shown even in the midst of pain. Jesus announced the betrayal
of Judas Iscariot, the denial of Peter, and the abandonment of
the other apostles. St. John notes: "The devil had already put it
into the heart of Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray him" (Jn
13:2). Later Jesus said: "For he knew who was to betray him; for this
reason he said, ‘Not all of you are clean’" (Jn 13:11).
God Kneeling Before Humanity
Jesus revealed His love in a striking way by washing the feet of His
disciples and commanding them to love one another as He had loved them. He
stood among them as a servant, showing the meaning of humility and
obedience to God’s will. During His public ministry, Jesus often taught His
disciples not to seek the first place but to cultivate humility of heart. As disciples of Christ, we are called not
to dominate but to serve, loving one another as Christ loves us. In Jesus
touching and washing the feet of His disciples, we see something extraordinary:
God Himself kneeling before humanity.
The Meaning of the Washing of the Feet
Jesus washed the feet of all the disciples—including Judas who
would betray Him, Peter who would deny Him, and the others who would abandon
Him. He did not refuse to wash Judas’ feet. He did not exclude Peter. He
washed them all. This is the true sign of unconditional and enduring love.
Jesus knew that the feet He washed would soon run away from Him. Yet He still
chose to perform this humble act of love. Interestingly, Jesus did not take
their heads into His hands—the place of dreams, ideals, and ambitions—but their
feet, which represent human weakness, fragility, and the direction of
one’s life. Our feet reveal our journey—where we come from, where we
are going, and whom we walk with. In a sense, our feet are the map of our
soul.
Communion Within the Community
Jesus did not go into the streets of Jerusalem to wash the feet of
strangers. The washing of the feet took place within the intimate community
of disciples in the Upper Room. His gesture teaches us that true Christian
love begins within the community of believers—in communion, unity in
faith, hope, and charity. The apostles were the ones whom Jesus had chosen “to
be with him and to be sent out” (Mk 3:14). They shared the same faith, the
same mission, and the same hope. If the disciples do not love one another,
their preaching of the Gospel loses credibility.
Living the Message of the Last Supper
The washing of the feet
explains what it means to live the life of Christ today. It means becoming
servants of all, placing ourselves at the service of others and giving our
lives for the salvation of the world. It is not enough to simply read about
Jesus’ actions in the Gospel. True love must be seen, experienced, and
lived.
The Eucharist: The Heart of the Church
The Last Supper continues
throughout the centuries in the celebration of the Holy Eucharist. Jesus
entrusted the apostles and their successors with the mission of celebrating the
Eucharistic sacrifice. Christ remains the eternal High Priest, offering
Himself to the Father (Heb 4:14–5:10). As the Letter to the Hebrews reminds us,
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb 13:8). The
Eucharist is heavenly food and medicine for our souls. Jesus promises: "I
am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will
live forever" (Jn 6:51). The Eucharist is truly the heart of the
Church and the fountain of grace.
Points for Personal Reflection
Every time we participate
in the Eucharist, the Lord invites us to sit at His table just as He
invited the apostles at the Last Supper.
• What is my attitude
toward the Eucharist?
• Do I receive it with faith and reverence as the bread of eternal life?
• Do I love and pray for my priests, who represent Christ in the Church?
• Do I serve others with humility and love?
Can I say with St.
Paul: "It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me"
(Gal 2:20).
Dear friends, Jesus
invites each of us to sit at the table of the Last Supper. He wants to
take our tired and wounded feet into His blessed hands. No matter how many
times we have fallen or taken the wrong path, Jesus is ready to wash our
feet again and guide us back to the right direction.
