Maundy Thursday 17 April 2025
Mass Readings:
Ex 12:1-8.11-14, Ps 116, 1 Cor 11: 23-26, Jn 13:1-15
Key Verse to Meditate: So, if I, your Lord and Teacher, have
washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet (Jn 13:14).
Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,
Today, the Church
celebrates Maundy Thursday, the commemoration of the Last Supper of the Lord,
as we begin the Sacred Triduum leading up to the feast of Easter. Maundy
Thursday reminds us of the final supper Jesus shared with His disciples before
His Passion and death. Jesus spent His last hours before being arrested in the
company of His apostles, celebrating the Passover with them. He showed
extraordinary love for His beloved disciples, teaching them the commandment of
love and leaving them with His final instructions.
This celebration also
reminds us of the institution of two great sacraments: the Eucharist and
the Holy Priesthood. Alongside these profound events, Maundy Thursday
emphasizes the Great Commandment of Love given to us by Jesus. That is
why, during today’s liturgy, as narrated in the Gospel, we also have the
washing of the feet — a humble gesture rich with meaning.
The Last Supper is, in essence, a historical commemoration of the Jewish Passover meal. But it becomes far more significant and memorable for Christians due to three key dimensions:
- It is the day on which Christ instituted the Holy
Eucharist.
- It is the day on which He instituted the Holy
Priesthood.
- It is the day on which He gave us the Commandment
of Love.
For the apostles, it must
have been a strange supper. The whole city was preparing for the feast of
Passover, celebrating their liberation from slavery in Egypt. The disciples had
no idea this would be their last meal with the Master. They could not imagine
the weight of the moment. But Jesus knew exactly what was about to unfold. Yet
He did not want to frighten them. He wanted them to feel His presence and, more
importantly, His unfailing love, right up to the very end.
The First Reading
Today’s Liturgy of the Word
begins with a reading from the Book of Exodus. It recalls the first Passover
meal, as commanded by Yahweh to His servants Moses and Aaron in Egypt:
"Now you shall eat it in this manner: with your loins girded, your
sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it in
haste — it is the LORD's Passover" (Ex 12:11).
God gave them clear
instructions on how to celebrate this sacred meal, even detailing the kind of
lamb to be offered: "Your lamb shall be an unblemished male a year old;
you may take it from the sheep or from the goats" (Ex 12:5).
In the New Testament, this
sacred meal is fulfilled in the Last Supper, where Jesus, the Lamb of God,
sacrificed His life, shedding His blood to save us from eternal death. This new
Passover becomes a lasting memorial, just as Yahweh commanded: "Now
this day will be a memorial to you, and you shall celebrate it as a feast to
the LORD; throughout your generations you are to celebrate it as a permanent
ordinance" (Ex 12:14).
The Gospel Reading
Today’s Gospel, according
to St. John, uniquely presents the washing of the feet — an act not
found in the other Gospels. St. John does not include a direct account of the
institution of the Eucharist or the priesthood, but instead focuses on the Commandment
of Love. Jesus, through this humble act of washing the feet of His
disciples, teaches us that love must be expressed through service.
As Christians, we are
called to love without limits, imitating Christ’s example.
However, the institution of
the Eucharist is referenced in today's Second Reading from the
First Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians (1 Cor 11:23–25). The synoptic
Gospels also recount this event:
- Luke 22:19–20
- Matthew 26:26–28
- Mark 14:22–24
"Then he took a loaf
of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them,
saying, 'This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of
me.' And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying, 'This cup that is
poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood'" (Lk
22:19–20).
Thus, there is blessing,
breaking, and sharing — the bread is broken, and the wine is
poured and shared. These actions form the heart of the Eucharist.
In
the Company of His Disciples
In
the Gospel, we see Jesus spending the last hours of His earthly life in the
company of His disciples. The Master reveals an extraordinary love for them,
offering teachings and heartfelt exhortations. During the Last Supper, Jesus
expressed-with His words-the depth of His love and sealed it eternally by
instituting the Eucharist. He gave Himself: His Body and Blood, in the form of
bread and wine, to become spiritual food for us, sanctifying both body and
soul.
Even
amid His pain, He expressed love-announcing Judas’ betrayal, Peter’s denial,
and the abandonment by the rest of the apostles. St. John notes: “The devil had
already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And
during supper…” (Jn 13:2). Later, Jesus says to Peter, “Not all of you are
clean”—an indirect reference to Judas (Jn 13:11).
Jesus’
Washing of the Apostles' Feet: An Extreme Act of Humility
Jesus
made His love tangible by washing the feet of His apostles, commanding them to
love one another as He had loved them. He stood among them as a servant,
showing what it means to be humble and obedient to God’s will. Throughout His
public ministry, Jesus taught His disciples not to seek places of honour but to
embrace humility. As His followers, we too are called not to rule, but to
serve, loving one another as Christ has loved us.
In
touching and washing their feet, God Himself knelt before humanity.
Washing of the Feet: Twenty-Four Feet
During
supper, Jesus got up from the table, took off His outer garments, put on an
apron, took a basin of water, knelt, and washed the feet of His
disciples—twenty-four feet in total. He washed the feet of Judas, who would
betray Him; of Peter, who would deny Him; and of the others, who would abandon
Him. Yet He did not exclude anyone. This is the true sign of enduring love, and
we remember this during the Maundy Thursday liturgy.
Jesus
knew that these very feet would walk away from Him, yet He chose to perform
this supreme act of love. He didn’t take their heads in His hands—with their
dreams and ideals—but their feet, which symbolized their contact with the
earth, their fragility and poverty. Feet cannot lie. They reveal who we are,
where we’ve been, and where we’re going. They are the map of the soul.
Jesus
Washed Only the Disciples’ Feet
Jesus
didn’t go into the streets to wash the feet of strangers. He did it within the
community of disciples, building unity in faith, hope, and charity. This action
was not for public display but for the inner circle—the ones called to remain
with Him and to be sent out (cf. Mk 3:14). They shared His mission, His
teachings, and His ministry.
A Disciple Is One Who Feels Loved by the Master
A
true disciple must know and feel the love of Jesus. He must also love his
fellow disciples with the same love Christ has shown. This is true at every
level of Christian community life. Jesus taught that without love among the
disciples, their preaching would lack credibility. The washing of the feet
shows what it means to live like Christ—to become the servant of all and to
give one’s life as a ransom for many.
It
is not enough to observe or repeat the actions of Jesus. True love must be
lived, seen, and felt.
To
Touch the Feet of One Another
Jesus
touched and sanctified the feet of the disciples—the very feet that would carry
the Gospel to the ends of the earth. “How beautiful are the feet of those who
bring good news!” (Rom 10:15). Isaiah proclaims: “How beautiful upon the
mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace…” (Is 52:7).
Priests, religious, and faithful are all called to this mission. We too must
humble ourselves, touch one another’s feet in forgiveness and service.
At
the Last Supper, Jesus didn’t just speak—He gave an example. After washing
their feet, He said: “You call me Master and Lord, and rightly so, for that is
what I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also
ought to wash one another’s feet.” (Jn 13:13–14)
The
Eucharist
The
Last Supper, during which the Eucharist was instituted, is repeated throughout
the centuries. Jesus empowered the apostles and their successors to celebrate
this holy meal. Christ, the Eternal High Priest in the order of Melchizedek
(cf. Heb 4:14–5:10), continues to offer Himself during every Mass.
As
St. Paul says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Heb
13:8). The Eucharist is heavenly food—medicine for our souls and our fallen
humanity. As Jesus promised: “I am the living bread that came down from heaven.
Whoever eats this bread will live forever. And the bread that I will give for
the life of the world is my flesh.” (Jn 6:51).
The
Commandment of Jesus and the Institution of the Priesthood
The
commandment of Jesus, “Do this in remembrance of me”, reminds us of the
institution of the sacred order of the priesthood. During the time of the
coronavirus lockdown, we realized the importance of the priesthood in the lives
of believers and in the life of the Church. No Holy Masses, no chance of
receiving absolution for our sins, and no opportunity to receive Holy Communion
at the hands of a priest. Priests are the representatives of Christ, the
Eternal High Priest. Though human, with their own weaknesses and strengths,
they are men of God, consecrated and set apart for His work. Let us pray for
them and uphold them in our hearts and prayers.
As We Participate in the Eucharist
We
are sanctified and purified each time we partake in the Eucharist. Yet often,
our attitudes may mirror those of the apostles—faithful and weak, saints and
sinners, loyal and disloyal. Still, the Eucharist is a remedy for sin and the
source of transformation. It is the heart of the Church and the wellspring of
grace. Through it, Christ lives in us.
Points for Personal Reflection
Dear
friends, Jesus invites you and me to sit at the table of the Last Supper,
because He wants to take our feet into His blessed hands. No matter how often
we've fallen or strayed, He longs to purify us again and help us walk in the
right direction. What matters most is that we are here tonight—He wants to
carve the paths of charity, tenderness, and mercy into our lives.
Maundy
Thursday is deeply meaningful because, in these final hours before the Passion,
Jesus experiences fear and anguish-He will be scourged, carry the Cross, and be
crucified. God knows what we feel. Let us surrender ourselves at the merciful
feet of Christ, whose consolation never fails.
Every
time we receive the Eucharist, the Lord invites us to sit at His table-just as
He did with the apostles. But what is my attitude toward the Eucharist?
Do
I recognize it as the food of eternal life and approach it with reverence?
How
do I regard my priests? Do I love and pray for them, as they stand before God
on our behalf?
Do
I serve with humility? Do I love without measure, as Jesus did?
Can
I, like St. Paul, say: “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me”
(Gal 2:20)?
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