Lenten Guide – Maundy Thursday

Excerpted from the Council’s 2019 Lenten Reflection Guide for Lectionary Year C.

Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus answered, “You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.” Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” Jesus said to him, “One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.” For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, “Not all of you are clean.” After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them. When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’ I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:1-17, 31b-35)

Water, towel, basin, and dirty feet: these are the raw ingredients for a powerful act that transforms both the traveling guest and the host. Foot washing is a sacramental act that many Christians still observe, particularly on Maundy Thursday of Holy Week. This ritual carries layers of meanings. It is a sign of hospitality. It is a true act of humility. The water evokes the cleansing waters of baptism. Not only is it representative of all these meanings, it is an act that allows us to witness a compassionate deed, a rejection of status norms, and a barrier-shattering justice. Jesus stands up in order to kneel down; takes something off in order to put something on; takes the faces of pride and turns them into faces of humility.

After a day of walking the dirt roads with open sandals on the same paths that are traveled by other people and animals, we can only imagine how much dust and dirt collects on our feet. Once entering a house, a pitcher of water and basin was provided for those who were guests of the home. It was typical for a servant of the host to wash the feet of all who entered. This act of hospitably was common in every household where guests were welcomed in from their journeys.

On his final night with his closest friends, Jesus himself performed this act of hospitality. Jesus, “though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking form of the servant” (Philippians 2:6-7) knelt down and washed the feet of his disciples. What if we were to follow in Jesus’ footsteps? What if we dare to take off the outer robes of exploitation and contempt and instead wrap ourselves in towels of service, compassion, humility, and hospitality?

Since I coordinate the Immigration Program at the Council, I feel it is necessary to recognize the stories that Christians remember on this night before Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion. These stories are intimately tied to the stories of our sisters and brothers being traumatized at our border. For months, even years, we have witnessed the great pain and disorder that is surrounding our unjust immigration system. Instead of erecting barriers, we should be removing them—particularly the unseen ones that grip our hearts. Maybe, just maybe, the raw ingredients for building something new near our southern border is not metal slats or massive amounts of concrete, but simple things like water, towel, basin, and a willingness to get our hands dirty.

Prayer: Lord, help us learn to take off the outer layers of apathy and indifference so that we might put on the towel of service and take on the humbling task of welcoming, washing, and serving the travelers you bring to our door. Amen.