Reflection for Holy Thursday. Gospel Passage for the day 

By

Fr. Aloysius Santiago sdb
Director, Social Action Movement, Don Bosco Bidar 

 John 13:1-15    

Now he showed how perfect his love was

It was before the festival of the Passover, and Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to pass from this world to the Father. He had always loved those who were his in the world, but now he showed how perfect his love was.

  They were at supper, and the devil had already put it into the mind of Judas Iscariot son of Simon, to betray him. Jesus knew that the Father had put everything into his hands, and that he had come from God and was returning to God, and he got up from table, removed his outer garment and, taking a towel, wrapped it round his waist; he then poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel he was wearing. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, ‘Lord, are you going to wash my feet?’ Jesus answered, ‘At the moment you do not know what I am doing, but later you will understand.’ ‘Never!’ said Peter ‘You shall never wash my feet.’ Jesus replied, ‘If I do not wash you, you can have nothing in common with me.’ ‘Then, Lord,’ said Simon Peter ‘not only my feet, but my hands and my head as well!’ Jesus said, ‘No one who has taken a bath needs washing, he is clean all over. You too are clean, though not all of you are.’ He knew who was going to betray him, that was why he said, ‘though not all of you are.’

  When he had washed their feet and put on his clothes again he went back to the table. ‘Do you understand’ he said ‘what I have done to you? You call me Master and Lord, and rightly; so I am. If I, then, the Lord and Master, have washed your feet, you should wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example so that you may copy what I have done to you.’

 Reflection on the readings 

This evening, as we recall the Institution of the Lord's supper, we would expect the readings to highlight what Jesus did at the Last Supper. 

The 1st reading recalls the first Passover meal, which is the most sacred meal of the Jews. 

Jesus was with His disciples for the Passover meal, but during that meal, He made a profound change and it became the Christian Eucharistic meal. 

The 2nd reading further highlights the Eucharist as a sacred meal in which Jesus gave the Church His Body and Blood, and He commanded that it be done in memory of Him. 

That is why today is also called Maundy Thursday, which comes from the Latin word “mandatum”, which means mandate. Yes, Jesus mandated it to be done in memory of Him. 

So, in the gospel, we might think that it will explain how bread and wine is changed into the Body and Blood of Christ. 

Yes, it started off as a meal, and then during that meal, something surprising and astounding happened. 

Jesus washed the feet of His disciples. From the lofty table of the sacred meal, the focus went down to the dusty feet of the lowly. 

It was so dramatic that we will even re-enact the washing of the feet later. 

Though the gospel didn't say how the bread and wine are changed into the Body and Blood of Christ, the washing of the feet tells us why Jesus gave us His Body and Blood.

It goes back to the whole purpose of salvation, that Divinity took on humanity, that God became man, the lofty went down the lowly, all because of love. 

At the Last Supper, God showed us how perfect His love was, when Jesus washed the feet of His disciples. 

It was the Creator washing the feet of His creatures. If that was unthinkable, then how about Jesus giving us His Body and Blood, and then dying on the Cross to save us? 

But that is how perfect, that is how great, the love of God is for us. 

Jesus, our Lord and Master, has given us an example so that we may do what He did for us. 

We need not be foot-washers. We just have to go to the lowly and be lowly, and be care-givers, be love-sharers, be wounded-healers, be understanding-listeners, and be God’s witnesses. 

Then the meaning between the Eucharist and the washing of the feet will be revealed to us.

 Things to ponder 

Lord washes our feet!

Lord warms our fate!


Lord cleanses our hearts!

Lord cleans our hands!


Lord calls us to imitate!

Lord calms us to initiate!


Am I humble enough?

Am I hospitable enough?


GOD BLESS YOU

Good morning. Have a nice day.

Happy Feast