Maundy Thursday

 

Next week is the beginning of Holy Week, a very Holy Week in the Christian year.

A common liturgy on Holy Thursday is the practice of washing of the feet on (Holy) Maundy Thursday. It is an ancient custom.

The root of this practice appears to be found in the hospitality customs of ancient civilizations, especially where sandals were the chief footwear, and dusty conditions existed. A host would provide water for guests to wash their feet, provide a servant to wash the feet of the guests or even serve the guests by washing their feet.

This is mentioned in several places in the Old Testament of the Bible (e.g. Genesis 18:4; 19:2; 24:32; 43:24; I Samuel 25:41; et al.), as well as other religious and historical documents.

A typical Eastern host might bow, greet, and kiss his guest, then offer water to allow the guest to wash his feet or have servants do it. Though the wearing of sandals might necessitate washing the feet, the water was also offered as a courtesy even when shoes were worn. I Samuel 25:41 is the first passage where an honored person offers to wash feet as a sign of humility.

Although the disciples most likely would have been happy to wash Jesus’ feet, they could not conceive of washing each other’s feet. This was because in the society of the time, foot-washing was reserved for the lowliest of menial servants. Peers did not wash one another’s feet, except very rarely and as a mark of great love.

Luke points out (22:24) that the disciples were arguing about who was the greatest among them, an attitude that precludes a willingness to stoop to wash feet. When Jesus, during the Last Supper, moved to wash their feet, they were shocked.

His actions served also as symbolic of spiritual cleansing and a model of Christian humility and gratitude. By washing His disciples’ feet, Jesus taught the lesson of selfless service and gratitude that was supremely exemplified by His death on the cross.

The word “Maundy” is derived from the Latin word for “command.” The “Maundy” in Maundy Thursday refers to the command Jesus gave to the disciples at the Last Supper, that they should love and serve one another.

Should we observe Maundy Thursday? The Bible neither commands nor forbids it. It is a good thing to remember the Last Supper and Jesus’ sacrifice on our behalf. It is a good thing to remember the Lord’s example of humility.

Would you wash the feet of your spouse and children as an example of humility and gratitude? Men who are of few words and rather reserved, what would it mean to you to have your feet washed by your spouse? Some men would say they come from a different set of beliefs, they may find the concept of washing another’s feet unacceptable and ridiculous initially. They may think that their ego and pride had to be buried before they could do such an act. They may feel empty at first, but then experience a great rush of love and tenderness, which may overpower them.

This may be a lesson in gratitude

This brings to mind that one attitude that we give the least importance to or maybe even taken for granted, the attitude of gratitude. From many years of knowing a person or living with a person, we tend to forget this attitude of gratitude. We need to remind ourselves sometimes of all that our spouses have done for us and continue to do for us, especially when we are mad at them for something or the other. At times we could ask ourselves, so what, I have also devoted my life to this person or done this or that for him or her. The truth is when you do good, you release goodness into the world and it is not yours anymore. It has a life of its own to go and beget more goodness. When we recall the good we have done by comparing it and weighing it against the acts of others, our works are meaningless.

Maybe, we do not have to wash each other’s feet to learn this lesson, but this is a lesson that may change our life. This lesson of love and humility that will make us whole, a lesson that we will keep learning day after day in our interaction with others. It will remain the most important lesson of our life. The lesson of love and humility, the lesson of washing of feet.

Each month a member of the Cook County Ministerium will offer Spiritual Reflections. This month our contributor is Deacon Peter Mueller of St. John’s Catholic Church in Grand Marais.