Maundy Thursday

Maundy Thursday

(Maundy from the Latin ‘mandatum’ meaning ‘command’)

 Reading and Reflection for Maundy Thursday

 John 13.1-17, 31b-35
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.’

 In your imagination enter into the story as if you were there. Notice the characters in the room, the key players in the story and atmosphere.

Can you sense the tension in the room as the disciples gather and eat supper together?

In the quietness after the meal you hear Jesus asking for a basin, water and a towel.

You see the look of surprise on the faces of the disciples – this turns to shock as Jesus starts to wash their feet.

You smile smile at Peter’s words, ‘Lord, are you going to wash my feet?’ You notice the look on his face.

There is a question for you:

‘What would your reaction be if Jesus were to come now to wash your feet?’

Maybe you can imagine Jesus washing your feet, allowing this intimacy as he touches you in service and care. He wants to be close to you like this. His invitation is that we be as open to him in love as he is to us.

Jesus washes Judas’ feet, knowing that Judas will shortly betray him. After witnessing this, is there anyone whom you can justifiably not love, or serve?

Our reading from John ends with Jesus giving 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.’

​After all you have witnessed, is there anyone whom you can justifiably not love, or serve?

​Where do I place limits to my love of others?

Lord God,
Your Son knelt down on the floor,
And washed his friends’ feet.
Help us learn from his example;
Help us to do as he has done for us.
That we may love others as He has loved us.
Amen
 
Fr. Derek Akker