Psalm Psalm 116:12-13,15-18
2nd Reading 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
Gospel John 13:1-15
Beloved, we have been ushered into the crucial moments of the Holy Week, the Triduum. Holy Thursday commemorates two sacraments: ‘Holy Orders, thus, the institution of the ministerial priesthood’ and the ‘institution of the Sacrament of Holy Eucharist’. These two sacraments go hand in hand. Jesus instituted ‘the worker and the work’.
The readings of this evening are eucharistic. The first reading speaks of the ‘Passover’ event in Egypt. Paul, in the Second reading, recounts Jesus' words at the Last Supper as handed over to him by the Lord. John's Gospel informs us about the washing of the feet of the apostles and Jesus ‘being at table’ (cf. Jn. 13:12).
Just like how John's Gospel emphasizes signs having deeper theological meanings, so do we understand that sacraments are outward signs of inward grace instituted by Jesus Christ by which grace is given to our souls.
John's Gospel for this evening can be divided into two and understood. The first is the washing of feet and the second which was mentioned in passing but gives an indication is the disciples and Jesus being at table.
We read that Peter initially rejected Jesus washing his feet. Why? When a journey is made by an individual and arrives, it is the singular duty of the slave (the doulos -δούλος) to wash the feet of the fellow, not the highest or master, lord (the kyrios-κύριος). The Gospels tell us of the travelling events of Jesus into and within Jerusalem. They were walking about.
Ideally, the youngest of the disciples, who is the least, should be seen washing the feet of his fellows. Jesus took the position of the youngest, the least, the ‘minus’ disciple. He turns the custom. In Jesus, we find an equation of leadership and 'servanthood', an ideal for a world bedevilled with exploitation. Today being a day for the commemoration of the institution of the ministerial priesthood, we see that the priest who is the leader is also the servant. In fact, he is the least in any liturgical setting.
The second important thing to understand is ‘being at table’. Paul, in the second reading, tells us that ‘he took the cup’. Which cup? At any Jewish supper, there are four cups. Three are used at the main supper and one is reserved for after supper, what we will call dessert. This cup is distributed by the leader and those present take part in it, commune.
Jesus referred to this cup as “the cup of the new covenant in my blood” (Second reading). We now see that the same leader who gives it out dignified himself as the perfect servant when he inverted the social custom of feet washing. The priest who is the leader exemplifies himself as the good shepherd who works for God's flock.
May Jesus be an example to all priests and seminarians. Remember to pray for priests and seminarians this evening. May they take the form of Christ.
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