THURSDAY, HOLY WEEK
HOLY THURSDAY
Ex 12:1-8,11-14 Ps 116 1 Cor 11:23-26 Jn 13:1-15
Today, we gather to remember and celebrate the deeply meaningful actions of Jesus on Maundy Thursday. His closest disciples, in their human frailty, struggled to fully comprehend the magnitude of what was unfolding. Yet, here and now, we stand with the clarity of hindsight, understanding the significance of His actions and the eternal destiny they secured for us. All of this – the suffering, the sacrifice, the redemption – happened because of us. It happened because humanity, in its brokenness, embraced the allure of evil and turned away from His divine grace, the very grace that could have empowered us to overcome sin. Yet, in His infinite mercy, Jesus came to rescue us from eternal damnation and to restore our relationship with the Creator. As we walk through the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus, let us pause and reflect deeply, closing the door of our heart to the distractions of this world. Let us immerse ourselves in the profound truth of what we celebrate. Let us seek to understand the depth of His sacrifice, the weight of His love, and the transformative power of His resurrection.
The term ‘Maundy’ is derived from the Latin word mandatum, meaning “command.” Hence, literally speaking, today is “Command Thursday.” But what is this command? Let us turn to the Gospel of John, which offers a unique perspective on the events of this sacred day. While the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke focus on the Last Supper, John’s account shifts the spotlight to act of Jesus of washing the feet of the disciples. This act, found only in John’s Gospel, carries deep symbolic meaning and reveals the essence of Jesus’ command.
In the cultural context of time of Jesus, washing feet was a task reserved for the lowest servants or slaves in a household. It was a menial, humbling act, often performed as a gesture of hospitality for guests. For a master to wash the feet of his disciples was unthinkable. This explains Peter’s shock and resistance when Jesus, the Master and Son of God, removed His robe, tied a towel around His waist, and knelt to wash their feet. This was no ordinary act of humility; it was a radical reversal of roles, a demonstration of servanthood that defied societal norms. But Jesus’ act went even deeper. By laying aside His robe, He symbolically foreshadowed the ultimate sacrifice He would soon make: laying down His life for His friends. The foot washing was not merely about humility; it was an illustration of love in action. It set the stage for the mandatum – the command – that Jesus would give: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” This command was a call to love with the same selfless, sacrificial love that Jesus demonstrated.
The command of the Lord to love and serve one another challenges us to dismantle the barriers of status, power, and privilege that divide us. Just as Jesus stooped to wash the feet of His disciples, we are called to humble ourselves and serve others, especially the marginalized and the vulnerable. If there is anything we must “flatten,” it is the gap between the rich and the poor, the powerful and the powerless. Jesus’ act of servanthood reminds us that true greatness lies in loving and serving others, not in seeking self-glory or dominance. As we reflect on this mandatum, we must also confront our own failures. Have we been indifferent, passive, or unwilling to commit to Christ’s command? Have we allowed our status, achievements, or comforts to hinder us from serving others? As we come to the end of this sacred season, let us ask ourselves: What have these forty days of Lent meant to us? Have we merely gone through the motions of rituals, or have we truly participated in the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus? Has this experience changed us? If our lives remain unchanged, we must seriously examine our discipleship and our commitment to the mandatum of the Lord. Let this Maundy Thursday be a moment to recommit ourselves to loving and serving others as Jesus did. Let us strive to live out His command in our daily lives, not just during Lent or Holy Week, but every day. For in doing so, we become true disciples, bearing witness to the power of His love.
Response: The cup of blessing is a participation in the blood of Christ.
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