Last night was the beginning of the Easter Triduum, which is the three days before Easter Sunday. It begins with Holy Thursday, also known as Maundy Thursday. This service commemorates the institution of the Eucharist that Christ instituted some 2000 years ago at the Last Supper.
A portion of last night's readings, came from 1 Cor 11:23-26 and John 13:1-15. (Text Below)
1 Cor 11:23-26
Brothers and sisters:
I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you,
that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed over,
took bread, and, after he had given thanks,
broke it and said, "This is my body that is for you.
Do this in remembrance of me."
In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying,
"This cup is the new covenant in my blood.
Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me."
For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup,
you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes.
Jesus commanded his disciples to go out and make disciples of all nations, instructing them in the ways of Him, which includes eating His flesh and drinking His blood until He comes again. Paul is sharing this information with the Corinthians.
On Holy Thursday, we celebrate that Christ instituted what we call, "The Eucharist", which means thanksgiving. This meal doesn't necessarily sustain us physically, but it does wonders for the soul.
John 13:1-15
Before the feast of Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come
to pass from this world to the Father.
He loved his own in the world and he loved them to the end.
The devil had already induced Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot, to hand him over.
So, during supper,
fully aware that the Father had put everything into his power
and that he had come from God and was returning to God,
he rose from supper and took off his outer garments.
He took a towel and tied it around his waist.
Then he poured water into a basin
and began to wash the disciples' feet
and dry them with the towel around his waist.
He came to Simon Peter, who said to him,
"Master, are you going to wash my feet?"
Jesus answered and said to him,
"What I am doing, you do not understand now,
but you will understand later."
Peter said to him, "You will never wash my feet."
Jesus answered him,
"Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me."
Simon Peter said to him,
"Master, then not only my feet, but my hands and head as well."
Jesus said to him,
"Whoever has bathed has no need except to have his feet washed,
for he is clean all over;
so you are clean, but not all."
For he knew who would betray him;
for this reason, he said, "Not all of you are clean."
My daughters asked me "Why were those people getting there feet washed?" at Mass last night. Yes, we actually had "A foot washin'" at our church last night. I explained to them the same thing that the gospel said... that Father was setting an example for us to follow. We should be willing to do the nasty, unpleasant jobs that people need done...and do so with a loving heart. We shouldn't look at helping one another for the sake of checking things off a list... Washed feet, check. Cut neighbors lawn, check. Took groceries to Soup Kitchen, check check. We should look at it as, my neighbor can't mow the grass, I should really lovingly help him out... or not everyone is as blessed financially as I am and there are many people who are out of work and hungry, I would like to help feed them. "When I was hungry you fed me... "
Now, being as curious as I am, I looked up the meaning of "Maundy". The name "Maundy" comes from the Latin antiphon
Mandatum Novum, i.e. "a new mandate." This new mandate from Jesus is taken from John 13:34: love one another as I have loved you.
May the Peace of Christ be with you all.
