Maundy Thursday

Today is Maundy Thursday. It’s also known as Holy Thursday, Covenant Thursday, Great and Holy Thursday, Sheer Thursday and Thursday of Mysteries and is observed during Holy Week on the Thursday before Easter. The feast of Maundy (or Holy) Thursday solemnly commemorates the institution of the Eucharist and is the oldest of the observances peculiar to Holy Week. Maundy Thursday commemorates Jesus Christ’s institution of the Eucharist. The word Maundy comes from the Latin mandatum, which means “commandment”.

Holy Thursday is the day that Christ celebrated the Last Supper with His disciples. Maundy Thursday marks the beginning of the three-day Easter celebration, in one of the traditions, the traditions behind Maunday Thursday when Christians remember the Last Supper of Jesus. It was the day on which Jesus celebrated the Passover with His disciples, sharing bread and wine.

The Washing of Feet on Maundy Thursday is another practice on this day by washing the feet of twelve men. Foot-washing ceremonies are often a part of Maundy Thursday services. Before the Passover meal, Jesus washed the feet of his disciples. The biblical story of the feet-washing ceremony is mainly interpreted as an act of humility, a recurring message in the observance of the Holy Week. Historically, the feet-washing was a common practice in Eastern countries because people wore sandals and walked on dusty roads.

There are biblical allusions to the practice of feet-washing. In the Old Testament, the act was described as a lowly service as it was performed by slaves on guests especially in well-off households. That is why the disciples were surprised by the humble gesture of their preacher, prompting Apostle Peter to protest, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Peter asked, to which Jesus Christ replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand”.

“No, you shall never wash my feet,” Peter protested.

Jesus Christ answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”

The religious ritual was inspired by a biblical account of that fateful night before Jesus Christ’s passion, crucifixion, and death. John, the beloved apostle, has described in the 13th chapter (verses 1-17 of his gospel), Jesus Christ’s rare act of washing the feet of his disciples during dinner, now known as the Last Supper.

A passage from the chapter goes like this: “The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him”.